Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser ordered 11 COVID-19 testing sites in the Front Range to cease operations after an investigation by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment found the sites didn’t obtain required licenses or report data to the state.
According to a Jan. 15 announcement by the Attorney General’s office, three testing sites in Denver and Englewood operated by the Center for COVID Control were not certified under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments program to perform non-research and non-forensic lab testing on humans. Center for COVID Control operates 275 walk-in rapid and PCR COVID testing sites across the country, according to the company’s website.
The investigation by the CDPHE also revealed that the Center for COVID Control was not reporting testing results and cases to the state as required by law. The AG’s Consumer Protection Section received “a significant number of complaints” about the Center for COVID Control’s testing sites, according to the release, including concerns about safety conditions and the use of personal protective equipment.
Another testing company, Macagain Corp., was ordered to close its eight sites in the Denver-metro area, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs for failure to report results, according to the Attorney General’s office.
The Attorney General’s office sent cease-and-desist letters on Jan. 14 to both companies ordering the closures. The sites may reopen if the Center for COVID Control and Macagain Corp. show they obtained all necessary certifications and are following Colorado’s legal requirements to operate COVID-19 testing sites. Weiser’s office may take additional legal action if the companies don’t comply with the cease-and-desist orders.
“A well-documented investigation by CDPHE concluded that the Center for COVID Control has failed to obtain all necessary licensing required to perform COVID-19 testing in Colorado. Our consumer protection section also has received a significant number of complaints about safety conditions at their testing sites, including concerns about the appropriate use of personal protective equipment,” said Weiser in the announcement. “By violating these licensing requirements and ignoring health and safety protocols, the Center for COVID Control is putting Coloradans at risk and we’re taking action to protect public health.”
“The public needs to be able to have confidence and trust in testing sites,” said Scott Bookman, Incident Commander of CDPHE’s COVID-19 Response. “We’re thankful for the swift help of the Department of Law in halting these testing operations, protecting consumers, and ensuring public health orders are followed.”
The 11 sites ordered to be closed are:
Locations operated by Center for COVID Control:
- 6460 E. Yale Ave., Denver 80222
- 4775 S. Broadway, Englewood 80113
- 1750 Blake St., Denver 80202
Locations operated by Macagain Corp:
- 1546 28th St., Boulder 80303
- 3250 W. 72nd St., Westminster 80030
- 155 Cook St., Denver 80206
- 620 Miller Ct., Lakewood 80215
- 1700 S. College Ave., Fort Collins 80525
- 6830 S. Yosemite Ct., Centennial 80112
- 3629 Betty Dr., Colorado Springs 80917
- 2910 Wood Ave., Colorado Springs 80907