Paco Sanchez, Montbello see higher testing numbers among African American, Latinx residents than at Pepsi Center site

Today, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) shared encouraging data that

The city transitioned from the Pepsi Center mass testing site on October 1, to more focused, community-based testing to better serve historically underserved communities. To date, two fixed testing sites at Paco Sanchez Park and Montbello Recreation Center have been opened, supported by multiple other pop-up and mobile testing events.

Of the people served at Paco Sanchez, 32% identify as Latinx, a nearly 40% increase over those tested at Pepsi Center.

At Montbello, over 10% of people tested identify as Black–nearly three times the rate at Pepsi Center–and 49% identify as Latinx.

Both sites are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Paco Sanchez is also open weekends from 8 a.m. to noon. Inclement weather can affect operations. 

Community testing events through the end of October can be found at www.denvergov.org/covid19testing. The sites of these events include:

• Clinica Tepayac
  Globeville Community Church, 5039 Lincoln St.
  Denver, CO 80219
  • Thursday, October 29
    8 a.m.–12 p.m.

• Denver Human Services: East
  3815 Steele St.
  Denver, CO 80205
  • Saturday, October 31
    9 a.m.–1 p.m.

More sites will be added as they come online, so check back for updates on locations.

We also have mobile testing available for those who are homebound. Appointments for mobile testing can be made by calling 311.

The amount of testing the city is doing greatly exceeds the number of daily tests recommended by the CDC of 150 tests for every 100,000 people. With that calculation, the city should be doing 1,080 tests daily. But we are doing about 3,500 a day.

People who feel sick or are concerned they have been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested. If you have health insurance, please schedule an appointment with your primary care provider or an urgent care facility. Seeing your doctor allows you to get a COVID-19 test, influenza test, and strep test all at once (depending on symptoms) as well as a full plan of care based on your specific symptoms. If you do not have insurance and are concerned you have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested for free at a community testing site.