Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HERRIMAN — Getting a nasal swab isn't the most comfortable feeling in the world; however, at least one aspect of getting a COVID test in Herriman these days isn't so painful anymore.
"The last time we were here, we waited in line for two and a half hours. This time, we have been here for six minutes," Becky Jacobson told KSL-TV just after she finished her test Saturday.
That's because the Herriman City Hall testing location moved to reservation only this week instead of first come, first serve.
Jacobson, who needed to get tested with her daughters, is glad that change happened so she wouldn't have to wait so long for a test like she did the last time she was here.
"The traffic was really bad," she said. "At some point, it went down 134th."
That's about a mile away.
It's also why the Utah Department of Health and Nomi Health, which runs this site, decided to start a reservation system.
"Unfortunately, we've had a great increase in demand for COVID testing because of omicron and also because of people mingling over the holidays," Dr. June Steely, who is with Nomi Health, said. "The demand became so high that our sites were really having problems with traffic backing up and the lines blocking driveways and blocking roundabouts."
Not all testing locations have been moved to reservations, though. Some are still first come, first serve, which means, there could still be some long lines.
Dr. Steely is asking for patience and to not take it out on workers who are only doing their jobs.
"There have been people who have been upset and have taken it out on them," she said. "But there have also been people who have brought them snacks and Chinese food, so we just need more love in this world and patience and understanding."
Ever since moving to a reservation system, lines have been much shorter.
It helps to make those who need a test to be more relaxed as well.
"I saw the lines in Bluffdale going out the park and down the street. It looked terrible. The reservation thing is the way to go," Richard Wilcox, who lives in Bluffdale and came to the Herriman location Saturday, said.
"It's way better," Jacobson said.
To schedule an appointment, click here.
