Originally posted at New Haven Register
As demand for COVID-19 tests fall, one provider plans to make it easier to get tested before attending a wedding or going to summer camp.
American Family Care, which has urgent care facilities in Danbury and elsewhere in Connecticut and the country, is launching vans that bring rapid COVID testing to businesses, schools, summer camps and event venues.
The hope is that the strategy could prevent so-called “super spreader” events.
“We’re thinking outside the box here,” said Kaushik Makati, director of marketing and business development. “We’re taking a look at how can — if someone is getting married or someone is having a large event or gathering or conference — how can we ensure that folks are feeling safe and comfortable [to] go out and have a good time?”
Demand for COVID testing in Danbury has declined since late fall and early winter, but health care providers said the need remains now and into the future.
“I don’t foresee the need for testing to stop,” Makati said.
Providers said demand for testing has followed the rise and fall of cases.
New COVID cases in Danbury have fluctuated over the last several weeks. They fell at the end of March and beginning of April after jumping in mid-March.
But 196 positive tests were taken between April 12 and April 18, according to the latest city data. That was an increase of 100 cases from the week before and the highest weekly figure since January.
At the Connecticut Institute for Communities in Danbury, testing demand has fallen since a peak in November, when about 4,300 tests were conducted, said Katie Curran, chief operating officer and general counsel. In March, the nonprofit conducted 1,800 tests, with a little more than 1,000 in April.
“It’s still not insignificant in terms of the total volume,” she said. “There is still a demand for testing. We’ve seen more people test because of travel and spring breaks.”
Five staff members conduct testing, much fewer than in November, Curran said. These members are also involved in distributing COVID vaccines. Patients do not need to wait long to get swabbed.
“It’s within minutes,” she said. “There’s really no wait time.”
CIC Health went from offering three- to- four lanes at its drive-thru site in Danbury to two- to- three lanes, depending on appointments, spokeswoman Sue Minichiello said. The provider plans to continue to offer testing as long as the state needs it, she said.
“Demand has remained consistent, although it has slowed at the same rate we’ve seen across the state from other public testing facilities,” she said in an email. “Testing numbers are generally down throughout the country.”
About 100 people a day get tested at Community Health Center’s site in Danbury, with an average of 1,200 tests performed statewide at its 19 locations and mobile sites, said Leslie Gianelli, spokeswoman. Mondays are the busiest, while the weekends see the lowest numbers because not all sites are open, she said.
At its peak, the health center conducted 5,000 tests a day statewide, she said.
“As more people become vaccinated, less people will require testing,” Gianelli said. “Right now, people still need to get tested because they’re traveling because they’re seeing family because they have jobs that require it.”
Mobile testing
The Connecticut Institute for Communities has not been doing much mobile testing lately because there haven’t been requests for it, Curran said. The organization previously tested at congregate settings, such as the Super 8 Motel homeless shelter in Danbury.
“As we switched to vaccinating there, there is really not as much demand to set up a mobile event there,” she said.
But the urgent care’s vans will be important as since many in the community are still not vaccinated, Makati said.
Nearly 39 nearly percent of Danbury residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine and about 22 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the latest state data. Percentages in surrounding towns vary, ranging from Bethel’s about 46 percent with one dose and Kent’s about 68 percent.
American Family Care, known as AFC, already had two of these vans in Massachusetts, but the mobile units will now be shared with Connecticut, too, Makati said. The vans have WiFi and the other equipment necessary to conduct about 150 tests a day. Results are available in 20 to 30 minutes.
AFC uses the Abbot ID NOW, rapid, molecular test, which Makati described as the best of the rapid tests.
“The accuracy and specificity is extremely high,” he said.
Groups can schedule them as a one-time event or an ongoing service. AFC has pitched them as being good for private businesses, sports teams, schools, courts, prisons, police and fire departments, and other locations.
AFC is in talks with an overnight summer camp in Connecticut and may test staff and children when they arrive and before they go home, he said.
“It creates a baseline,” Makati said. “You’re making sure the whole community is negative and doesn’t have the virus.”