Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman Gets Coronavirus Test As City Welcomes New Testing Site
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) -- The State of Colorado opened up two more coronavirus testing sites Monday, bringing the total to more than 50 around the state. The new ones are at the Aurora Sports Park, on East Colfax at Dunkirk, and in the parking lot of Water World in Federal Heights. Water World is closed for the season because of the pandemic.
The testing is touted as free, quick, and easy.
And, as Gov. Jared Polis noted, perhaps most importantly, the results are expected within 72 hours.
"Other labs were taking 8, 9, 10 days. These results should be in your hands within three days," Gov. Polis said.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger has been covering protests and thought it would be prudent to have a test done. First, his information was entered into a computer. Then he was directed to the next tent where a pre-med student took over. He was told to put his head back while a large Q-tip type stick was placed up his nose and held there for a few seconds.
This was not the so-called "brain tickler" that has brought some people to tears.
In fact, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman took it and barely reacted.
The testing process takes about 15 minutes and Mako Labs promises quick results.
Brett Ross is with Mako. He said the tests are flown to their lab in North Carolina and quickly processed.
"We give you a bar code, it's scanned and takes 30 seconds. I don't know how it is done in other places. Sometimes it's handwritten and takes 7-8 minutes," Ross stated.
The results can be obtained by texting a number.
These stations are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Polis was tested at the Water World site on Monday.
At the Aurora site, preregistration is suggested at TCHD.org/AuroraTesting. Preregistering is suggested to expedite the testing process, but it not required.