By Zane Josie
State officials say Coloradans have ordered more than 2.5 million tests since September
If you’ve been meaning to order at-home COVID-19 tests from the state, you only have until the end of Tuesday to get it done before Colorado shuts down its program.
Scott Bookman, the state’s COVID-19 incident commander, said Colorado is going to redirect those resources since a similar program now exists at the federal level. The state estimated residents have ordered more than 2.5 million of the free tests since September.
“We are proud of this groundbreaking program and to have been able to get millions of tests into the hands of Coloradans in the comfort of their own homes,” he said in a news release.
The federal program, launched in January through the U.S. Postal Service, allows each household to order four tests twice, though people who live in apartments have reported difficulty completing an order. The state program allowed residents to order kits containing eight tests once a month, but didn’t limit how many times they could place an order.
The state, however, will continue to distribute the free tests for pick-up at Colorado libraries and other locations, a program that began late last month.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment urged anyone with symptoms who tested negative with an at-home kit to get a test looking for the virus’s genetic material to confirm that before coming out of isolation.
People who test positive with an at-home kit don’t need another test to confirm the results, but are encouraged to report their case at CovidRapidTests.colorado.gov.
To order from the state program, visit CovidAtHomeTesting.colorado.gov.
For the federal program, go to CovidTests.gov or call 800-232-0233.
