Health care providers continue to expand COVID-19 testing in Connecticut even though the rate of infection is among the lowest in the U.S.
Connecticut had the 11th fewest new cases reported in the last seven days with 976, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That amounts to just more than one third of one percent of all new cases in the country.
One way to prevent the continued spread of this deadly pandemic is to pay close attention to physical health and keep an eye out for any COVID-19 symptoms.
“Fever, chills, shortness of breath, runny nose, fatigue, body aches, stuff of that nature,” said Michael Raffles, a nurse at one of Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center’s (CSHHC) pop up testing centers. “If you want to get tested, come get tested. If you’re worried about it … if you just want to play it safe then I would go get tested.”
Experts add that accessibility to testing has been increasing.
“You can not have symptoms and you could get tested. You don’t have to have a doctor’s order and you can get tested,” said Jessica Arroyo, the Nurse Program Manager for the Cornell Scott-Hill Homeless Department.
No matter the cause of a test, Arroyo urges that tests are the most important aspect of slowing COVID-19’s spread. The best way to determine if somebody has been exposed to the disease and should avoid contact with others is to administer a test.
Those who aren’t conducting tests are working in other ways. Carlah Esdaile-Bragg, the Director of Marketing & Community Relations at CSHHC, has been striving to ensure that testing not only remains available for the public, but that the public knows about it. She said that CSHHC will continue testing through the end of October at, but did mention that that timeline is subject to change.
Currently, the organization sets up shop at 428 Columbus Avenue in New Haven every Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It also tests regularly at 226 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven every Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Both locations offer walk up testing, though registering beforehand is a possibility as well. The test itself lasts roughly 30 seconds to a minute.
Pop up locations are regularly offered as well, with three scheduled for the upcoming three weeks. These pop ups take place at multiple locations and during various times to create more opportunity for people who want to be tested. The testing process is swift as well.
“The test itself is only 10-15 seconds,” said Arroyo.
Esdaile-Bragg said that testing methods vary across providers. Her company uses what Raffles defined as a mid-turbinate test, meaning the swab doesn’t go deep into the nostril. He said that the swab travels roughly the length from the pinkie finger’s tip to its first knuckle into the nostril.
Testing remains the best way to counter the virus even if people are asymptomatic or aren’t infected, according to experts.
“People are showing non-symptomatic, and that’s the importance of getting tested, because you might not show symptoms,” said Arroyo. “You can not have symptoms and you could get tested. You don’t have to have a doctor’s order and you can get tested.”
Test results are showing an increase in positive cases among people who aren’t showing symptoms. Arroyo said that means it’s important to test everyone. Due to the heightened confusion surrounding the ability to determine if someone may have the virus, Arroyo says that now more than ever everybody should receive a test.
“You don’t need your insurance, (you just need) your ID,” said Raffles. “And then the results, we’ve seen them in as early as 24 hours. It could take two to five days, but most of the results we’re seeing are 24 hours.”
To learn more about COVID-19 testing, visit the CDC website. The CSHHC website lists pop up locations, and the organization will listen to requests for specific locations.
“If people ask us to go out into the community, the marketing team sets us up,” said Ruffles. “They’re like, ‘Hey we’re doing one here today. So, we’re constantly adding places.”