WILLMAR — Beginning Friday, Jan. 14, Carris Health and CentraCare will stop testing asymptomatic people at its testing sites for now.
The pause in testing is due to a significant increase in demand for COVID-19 testing and a low supply of testing supplies and staff.
The pause in testing will include curbside, clinic, emergency department and urgent care sites.
The pause includes:
- Back to school testing
- Return to work testing
- Daycare testing
- Pre-travel and event testing
- COVID-19 confirmation tests
- “Worried well” repeat testers
Other health care organizations in the state are making similar decisions, according to a news release from Carris/CentraCare.
People in the community are encouraged to use at-home tests or go to a community testing site.
ADVERTISEMENT
The organizations said they hope the testing pause will be temporary and ask people in their communities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, getting vaccinated, socially distancing and washing your hands.