As the COVID-19 pandemic continues past eighteen months, testing has once again become a priority in many areas, particularly in rural communities where facilities are limited. In Talkeetna, Denali Education Center is stepping in to help fill some of the demand in the Northern Susitna Valley.
Denali Education Center began its own testing program this summer to support its summer camp activities where participants and staff would be out in the wilderness for multiple days. DEC Executive Director Jodi Rodwell says it made sense for the organization to receive a state waiver in order to conduct its own COVID tests to make sure its campers stayed safe. When the camps were over, there were still tests left, so DEC began making them available to the public. Rodwell says that has evolved into the current plan.
“Turns out that we used up what we had, and the demand was so great. We kind of just did some self-reflection on who we are, our place in this community, and just the need that was out there. And so as a community service, we just continued. We ordered some more tests and continued the program.”
Right now, testing has been temporarily halted at Denali Education Center. By mid-October, testing should be available again by appointment. A grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation is allowing the hiring of testing staff and the reconfiguration of part of the building. When testing resumes, it will be via a walk-up window on the side of Susitna Hall, formerly the home of Northern Susitna Institute just outside of Downtown Talkeetna. In addition to the rapid antigen tests that were being given before, Rodwell says DEC will also be able to provide rapid molecular tests, which are read on a device about the size of a deck of cards that attaches to an iPad. Both tests take about fifteen minutes to process, and those being tested typically wait in their cars.
Statewide, many testing facilities have run into supply shortages. Rodwell says, as of now, Denali Education Center is able to stay stocked up on tests received directly from the state.
“For us, it’s looking fine. So, our testing supplies come from the state, and they have a warehouse based in Anchorage. We can order the supplies online. They send them next-day. We get them very quickly, or we can go to the warehouse and pick them up.”
It’s not yet clear exactly when DEC will be able to start testing again, but Rodwell says they are hopeful for mid-October. Denali Education Center plans to make public announcements when a date is confirmed.
