JACKSON, Wyo. — For the past few days, long lines have been forming outside of the new Curative rapid PCR testing site in the Kmart/Target plaza. This is the only site with a turnaround time within 1 hour. Appointments for today are completely full.
According to the Curative website, “Curative samples may encounter delays shipping to the lab due to the holiday and inclement weather.”
The rapid site opened in November. “Please try to refrain from using rapid tests solely for surveillance testing or travel so we can ensure those who need a result that day can receive one,” said Teton County Health Department in the press release announcing the new testing site.
Tomorrow Dec. 23 there are 240 slots available. Appointments are available online and according to the site, walk-ins are accepted during open hours but can’t be guaranteed.
The testing site is open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m to 1 p.m on Saturdays. The testing site is closed on Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25.
Two other testing sites are open in the area at the Stilson parking lot and at the Teton County Library. Both sites have a 1-2 day turnaround once results are received at the curative lab.
The Stilson testing site offers testing weekdays from 7:30 a.m to 3 p.m. There are 84 open slots today. The Teton County Library site has 98 openings today and is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Both sites allow walk-ins.
Yesterday, Dec, 21, Teton District Health Officer, Travis Riddell announced he will not seek a new mask order at this time, unless a significant surge in cases, healthcare system stress, or other significant community impact is seen. The current mask order is set to expire on Dec. 31. Health officials urge community members to keep wearing masks in certain settings.
“At this moment in time we have not had a positive test for the Omicron variant in Teton County,” said Rachael Wheeler, public health response coordinator at TCHD. “With that being said, all the other surrounding states and other locations in Wyoming have detected a case of Omicron.”
“All positive tests from our curative send out site and vault tests go on for genetic sequencing and that’s how we determine all those different variants of concern. If you do a rapid or at-home test, those do not go on for further genetic sequencing. They are not further processed for the variant of concern,” Wheeler said.
