HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10551 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10551
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 23, 2021
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x° SUBJECT: COVID-19 TESTING UPDATE
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This report is to respond to the City Council's request for an update on COVID-19 testing sites available to Fort
Worth residents.
Background
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020), testing and contact tracing were critical for limiting
the spread of the virus and making business/isolation decisions. Individuals exposed to COVID-19 and those
experiencing symptoms needed access to reliable testing in order to make informed decisions concerning self-
quarantine, returning to work, and how to protect others in general. Globally, testing was a challenge due to
limited testing supplies and lab capacity. As the pandemic grew, testing results often took too long to be
effective.
Testing became more widely available in April 2020, although lab capacity was still a challenge. As capacity
grew, the City focused on both mass testing and testing in disenfranchised neighborhoods and vulnerable
populations. The City accomplished this with the support of hospital systems to include John Peter Smith (JPS),
the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the Tarrant County Public Health and select
medical laboratories.
By May 2020, testing manufacturers had begun to release new testing options and testing supply chains
increased. The City of Fort Worth, its partners and contractors setup a network of static and mobile sites
throughout the community in a concerted effort to maximize access and to increase options for both rapid and
molecular tests using a variety of methods. To maximize access for disenfranchised communities, a network of
roving, mobile sites and a few static sites were developed and operated by City personnel.
Testing continued in this fashion through early February 2021 (over 60,000 tests administered). As vaccine
supplies came online and the demand for testing dropped, the City and County worked with the State to have
state contractors provide mass public testing services at two Fort Worth locations: JP Elder Middle School and
TCC—South Campus. This allowed the City and County to move staff and resources over to vaccine
distribution.
COVID-19 Testing Options
While city staff have transitioned from testing to vaccine operations, COVID-19 testing is widely available at
public sites, pharmacies, doctor's offices and private contractor sites throughout the community. Demand for
testing is very low at this time, but public, no-cost options are still available through State of Texas Department
of Emergency Management contractors and other partners. For a full list of available testing locations, visit:
https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/covid-19/testing.
Should testing demand exceed supply in the future, the City is prepared to ramp up/assist others in meeting the
increased demand.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Brandon Bennett, Code Compliance Director, at 817-
391-6322.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS