State Expands Free Rapid Testing, Sees Highest Positive Test Rate

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state expanded free COVID-19 testing Monday, the same day the Utah Department of Health reported its highest positive test rate since the start of the pandemic.

“If you want to get tested, go get tested,” said Charla Haley, Utah Department of Health spokeswoman.

That is about all it takes to get tested these days after the state reported the seven-day average for positive tests is 2,716 per day. The rolling seven-day average for percent of positive laboratory tests is 30.8%, the ninth-highest rate in the country, according to Intermountain Healthcare.

“There is a good likelihood that there are people out there who are actually positive for COVID but who haven’t been tested and don’t know they’re positive so they’re actually spreading the virus,” Haley said. “If they don’t know they’re positive with COVID, they won’t take the extra precautions and stay away from people like we need them to.”

On Monday, state health officials announced they will begin offering free rapid antigen tests at 24 locations around the state. The rapid test will give you results in just 15 to 30 minutes.

“The goal of these testing clinics is to more quickly identify people who are currently infectious with COVID-19, including those who may not even know they are infected because they don’t have symptoms,” Haley said. “Identifying these individuals will help slow the spread of infection in the community.”

But Haley points out that antigen tests are not as effective at detecting the virus as PCR tests, or the method most people have become accustomed to. For that reason, Haley said if you have symptoms and test negative or don’t have symptoms and test positive on the rapid antigen test, health officials will refer you to get a confirmation PCR test.

Haley acknowledged the expanded testing is a big effort, considering the state is not letting up on its focus to distribute the vaccine. On Monday, the state reported it had administered 48,575 doses of the vaccine, or about a third of the 142,875 doses that have been shipped to Utah.

Locations selected for testing this week include:

Beaver County

Beaver High School, 195 E Center St, Beaver, Friday, 1/8 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Cache County

Hyrum Senior Center, 695 E Main St, Hyrum, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Carbon County

Walmart, 255 S Hwy 55, Price, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Davis County

• Freeport Center, Clearfield, Wednesday, 1/6 and Thursday, 1/7 – 7 a.m. to noon (both days) Register here.
• Woods Cross High School, 600 W 2200 S, Woods Cross, Friday, 1/8 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register here.

Duchesne County

Union High School, 850 E Lagoon St, Roosevelt, Friday, 1/8 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Emery County

Southeast Utah Health Department, 25 W Main St, Castle Dale, Wednesday, 1/6 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday, 1/7 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Grand County

Southeast Utah Health Department, 575 S Kane Creek, Moab, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Juab County

Juab High School, 802 N 650 E, Nephi, Friday, 1/8, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9, 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Salt Lake County

• Maverik Center, Lot D, 2050 W 3100 S, West Valley City, Monday – Saturday, 10 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register here.
• Utah State Fair Park (building #51), 155 N 1000 W, Salt Lake City, Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Register here.
• Murray City School District Office Building #1, 5102 S. Commerce Drive Murray, Tuesday, 1/5 and Friday, 1/8 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (both days) Register here.
• Glendale Middle School Gym, 1430 W Andrew Ave, Salt Lake City, – Friday, 1/8 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register here.
• Corner Canyon High School, 12943 S 700 E, Draper, Friday 1/8 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 1/9 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register here.

San Juan County

• San Juan County Building, 117 S Main St, Monticello, Wednesday, 1/6 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday 1/7 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.
• San Juan County Health Department, 735 S 200 W #2, Blanding, Friday 1/8 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday 1/9 – 12:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Sanpete County

North Sanpete Learning Center, 390 E 700 S, Mt Pleasant, Thursday 1/7 and Friday, 1/8 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.

Tooele County

Stansbury Park High School, 5300 Aberdeen Ln, Stansbury Park, Tuesday 1/5 and Wednesday 1/6 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.

Utah County

• Spanish Fork High School, 99 N 300 W, Spanish Fork, Wednesday, 1/6 and Thursday, 1/7 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (both days) Register here.
• Vista Heights Middle School, 484 Pony Express Parkway, Saratoga Springs, Wednesday, 1/6 and Thursday, 1/7 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.
• Lehi Junior High, 700 E Cedar Hollow Road, Lehi, Wednesday, 1/6and Thursday, 1/7 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.
• Oak Canyon Junior High, 111 S 725 E, Lindon, Wednesday 1/6 and Thursday 1/7 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.

Wasatch County

Wasatch County Events Center, 415 Southfield Road, Heber City, Monday, 1/4 – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, 1/5 – 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Register here.

Weber County

Ogden School District, Building 8, 1950 Monroe Blvd. Ogden, Monday 1/4 and Tuesday 1/5 – 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (both days) Register here.

More locations will be added as additional testing teams become available.