Generator problems lead to delays at Draper COVID testing site; other sites see massive lines
Jan 11, 2022, 9:27 AM | Updated: 11:35 am
The generator at the Draper COVID testing site broke Tuesday morning. (Derek Petersen/KSL TV)
(Derek Petersen/KSL TV)
DRAPER, Utah — A malfunctioning generator prevented one of the busiest COVID-19 testing sites from opening Tuesday morning, as sites across Utah continued to see long waiting times.
Tuesday is scheduled to be the last day at the Draper location, near the city’s senior center and library. City officials are moving it because of the traffic it’s causing in the area, but a new site has not been announced at this point.
Covid-19 testing begins for the day here in Draper – 3 1/2 hours after they were scheduled to open at 7 a.m. #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/mCkt9P7AF3
— Tamara Vaifanua (@TamaraVaifanua) January 11, 2022
KSL’s Tamara Vaifanua reported several cars were in line before the site’s scheduled 7 a.m. opening, which was delayed until after 10 a.m. Crews diverted those seeking tests to the Herriman site, which was quickly swamped by the additional demand.
As COVID-19 testing lines continue to be lengthy, here at J. Lynn Crane Park, below are some additional options of where you may get tested for free:
• Bluffdale (2400 W 14400 S)
• West Jordan (8000 S Redwood Rd)
• Maverik Center (3200 S Decker Lake Dr) pic.twitter.com/gSQ5RqonuT— Herriman City (@HerrimanCity) January 11, 2022
*Hours and days of operation may vary. Lines are anticipated to be long at any of the options listed above. For a full list of all test sites, including those that aren't free, please visit https://t.co/VD7f564knY
— Herriman City (@HerrimanCity) January 11, 2022
State officials have added measures they hoped would address long wait times, including testing by appointment only at multiple sites, not allowing testing for events or work and shifting staff to busier locations.
They cautioned of wait times of up to four hours at state-operated and sponsored testing sites amid the state’s COVID-19 surge, which has averaged roughly 8,000 new cases per day.
One woman told KSL’s Andrew Adams she arrived for a test at the Maverik Center around 9:15 a.m. Monday and she wasn’t tested until just before 5 p.m.
“It’s just really frustrating that by now — this far into the pandemic — we haven’t figured this part out yet,” Hannah St. Clair said.
Long lines were also reported at a testing site in St. George, which had to turn people away Monday afternoon. Police urged those seeking tests to consider sites in Cedar City and Hurricane.
COVID-19 testing takes all day for Utah woman as state enacts changes over wait-time issue
Several KSL viewers also mentioned that anyone seeking a test should check with their health care provider — for example, Intermountain Healthcare offers self-serve saliva PCR tests at some locations.
Click here for a full list of testing locations, including state- and non-state-sponsored locations.
