GRAND FORKS: Grand Forks Public Health’s COVID-19 network testing site at UND’s Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center will close Friday, March 10.
In a news release, Marcus Lee, emergency preparedness and response coordinator, said now is the “ideal” time to close the site.
“In an effort to align with the closure, funding, demand and access to testing of testing sites across the state, now is the best time to phase out the testing site from the COVID-19 network in Grand Forks,” Lee said. COVID-19 Testing continues to be available in at-home testing kits that are distributed free of charge to various locations in Grand Forks County, as well as testing at local physical care providers and pharmacies.
Lee also expressed his gratitude for the control site he has gained during the 3 years of operation.
“We are grateful to the network for the components, staff, and more than 3 years to make COVID testing in our network a good fortune and a key component of the COVID response,” Lee said.
GFPH’s Tiffany Boespflug said the shutdown is synchronized with other COVID-19 testing closures in the state. As physical testing closes, Boespflug said other people can still get tested for COVID-19 at their fitness clinics.
The demand for the control site has also decreased. Currently, GFPH performs an average of 20 to 25 PCR checks and five to 10 Rapid Antigen checks during the day. Monday is the busiest day of the week, with around 40 to 50 checks.
“Utilization is not really mandatory for the capacity we needed before,” said Boespflug, head of the fitness promotion team. “And then we don’t see as many numbers. We simply sought to keep the respiratory illness season open in case COVID numbers piled up. “
While demand for the test has decreased, Boespflug said there has been an increase in the number of other people receiving home control kits at distribution points.
In addition, investment in checks has declined. The checking network is funded with FEMA COVID-19 dollars.
GFPH also recommends that others stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, adding updated (bivalent) booster when appropriate.