CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department is anticipating a record number of people to drive up to its clinic in Casper’s Old Yellowstone District on Tuesday following the Labor Day weekend.
C-NCHD Public Information Officer Hailey Bloom said in an email on Friday that the COVID-19 testing line at its clinic on Monday was busy and forced traffic to be backed up onto West Yellowstone Highway.
The City of Casper has poured some new road base at the clinic that Bloom says will accommodate two purposes:
- Provide parking where C-NCHD staff can get in and out when the COVID-19 testing line is long
- Accommodate the COVID-19 testing line itself
“The lot’s done in terms of what will be done with it,” Bloom said Friday. “Essentially we are working with the city to make better traffic flow for testing.”
People wanting to get drive-up COVID-19 tests at the C-NCHD’s 475 South Spruce St. location can typically do so from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday (although services will be closed for Labor Day). A sign outside the health department currently directs traffic into two testing lanes on the right and one parking lane — reserved for C-NCHD staff — on the left.
“We will be requesting people for testing enter on Walnut Street and come down that new strip between Walnut and Spruce,” Bloom said. “For standard appointments, folks can come in on Walnut — there is some parking along that south side (diagonally) — or they can still park on Spruce. We will have people outside directing traffic also.”
People should not enter the clinic if they have COVID-19 symptoms. When they arrive at the testing line, people should call the department at 307-577-9892 and someone will come outside to administer a COVID-19 test.
People can also schedule COVID-19 tests ahead of time online.
“Tests are available with or without an appointment — whatever is best for you,” the C-NCHD says.
Tests are free for people who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Tests for elective medical or travel purposes have a cost:
“Note that rapid antigen tests are only for symptomatic individuals early in their illness,” the C-NCHD says. “If a rapid antigen test comes back negative, a free PCR test will be administered.”
“If you need testing outside of regular business hours, Mesa Primary and Immediate Care offers tests seven days per week from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Sage Primary and Walk-In Clinic tests Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m.”
“If you are experiencing COVID symptoms and need a test, please do not enter the clinic. Learn more at https://caspervcovid.com/.”
