Stamford Coronavirus Updates: New 'Quick Result' Test Available

STAMFORD, CT — As Stamford continues to grapple with the new coronavirus, Mayor David Martin announced last week a new fingerstick "quick result test" is available for testing the city's first responders twice a month. On Thursday, Martin released a video demonstrating the new test, which city officials said is available at DOCS Urgent Care in Stamford.

The announcement comes as the number of confirmed cases of the virus, also referred to as COVID-19, continues to rise in Stamford. In the city's "COVID-19 situation" daily newsletter released Monday, city officials said Stamford has 1,486 confirmed cases of the virus as of 4 p.m. on April 12, according to a report from the state department of public health.

The department of health also provides an interactive dashboard tracking cases and deaths across the entire state. According to this resource, Stamford has 43 reported deaths attributed to the virus, city officials said. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"The best way to slow down this disease is to offer widespread testing to everyone who has been exposed to coronavirus and everyone who has frequent contact with the public — including those who do not show symptoms," Martin said in a statement. "We know one of our biggest problems fighting this disease is access to testing. It's for that reason we have only been able to test individuals who are already sick and showing symptoms of the virus. This new "quick result" fingerstick test allows us to ensure the health and safety of our first responders, caretakers and volunteers without depleting access to high-in-demand testing kits."

City officials said the new "quick result" test collects a tiny blood sample from a fingerstick to identify if a patient has antibodies from fighting the COVID-19 virus. Test results using this method take 10 to 15 minutes to process, officials said.

Martin announced last week the city would test all of its first responders, including members of the Stamford police and fire departments, with the goal of continuing testing for first responders twice a month as the city continues to combat the spread of the virus.

Testing for first responders is being conducted in partnership with DOCS Urgent Care in Stamford, officials said. As additional supplies for this test become available, the city intends to expand testing for people exposed to the virus who are not showing symptoms. Individuals who receive a negative test result will not need to self-isolate or quarantine, officials said.

According to Arthur Augustyn, a spokesperson for the city of Stamford, the DOCS Medical Group is offering these tests to the public if residents make an appointment with their office. City officials have negotiated an arrangement with the group, which is separate from the city, to use some of these tests for its first responders.

"Residents are free to contact DOCS Medical Group on their own and receive an appointment to get this test," Augustyn said in an email to Patch, "but that is not done through the city."

Augustyn said the city's testing sites do not use the quick result test.

"Generally if a resident wants to get tested and doesn't care where or how, we direct them to call 1-833-5088378, or visit our webpage to get more information," Augustyn said.

Residents interested in testing should refer to the city's COVID-19 resource page, which includes a page dedicated to all available testing sites in Stamford. Residents must obtain an appointment with a testing site prior to arriving. Residents who show up without an appointment will not be tested, officials said.