By Amber McIver-Traywick

The Surveyor

****Larimer County is opening community-wide testing for COVID-19 to symptomatic individuals.

Testing for symptomatic individuals will begin Friday, April 24, in Larimer County. The County has received a delivery of limited testing supplies from the state. Testing will be provided until supplies are gone. Patients must be symptomatic. Testing will be done on an appointment basis, with pre-registration required. A doctor’s note is not required. No one under the age of 18 will be tested. Individuals are still recommended to contact their health care provider for guidance and assistance in acquiring a test, as some local providers have their own testing available to their clients.

To register for COVID-19 testing through Larimer County, visit larimer.org/community-testing

****Governor Jared Polis on Monday released details about what the coming weeks in Colorado may look like with the “Safer At Home” initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic following the end to the statewide Stay at Home order that will expire on April 26. Citizens will no longer be ordered to stay home but are strongly encouraged to continue to only leave home when absolutely necessary. Changes will include the reopening of some retail, childcare facilities, personal services like salons, tattoo parlors, dog grooming and personal training with strict precautions and protocol that state officials have yet to specifically outline. Real estate showings will also be allowed to begin again with open houses still being restricted. For more information visit covid19.colorado.gov

****Following in the footsteps of Dumas High School in Tyler, Texas that began the nationally expanding #BeTheLight campaign, Berthoud High School will begin turning the lights on at Max Marr Field at 8 p.m. every Friday night as a sign of solidarity. According to a post on social media, “Lights will be shining bright for the student-athletes who aren’t able to compete this spring season and for all students and their families whose activities are being missed this Spring.”

****U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need. USDA expanded flexibilities and waivers in all 50 states and territories to ensure kids and families who need food can get it during this national emergency offering additional EBT and SNAP benefits.

For all the information on USDA’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and resources available, please visit https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus.

****People with diabetes using Novo Nordisk Inc. insulin who have lost health insurance coverage because of a change in job status due to the COVID-19 pandemic may now be eligible for enrollment in the Diabetes Patient Assistance Program (PAP) and receive insulin free of charge for 90 days.

Through this enhancement, applicants are not required to provide documented proof of income. Participants must provide documentation showing loss of health care benefits, such as a job termination notice or job status change, or proof that COBRA benefits are being offered. In addition, if Medicaid benefits are denied, assistance for eligible patients can be extended past the 90-day-window until the end of the year. People applying for this program must have a valid prescription for a Novo Nordisk insulin and meet certain eligibility criteria, which can be found on NovoCare.com or by calling 1.844.NOVO4ME (668.6463).

****The Northern Colorado COVID-19 Response Fund announced new grant distributions of $334,497 to support 22 projects. To date, the Fund has awarded over $530,000 through 37 separate grants. These groups are active across Larimer County including Berthoud. Every grant distributed went to a nonprofit seeking funding for critical needs that have emerged as a direct response to COVID-19.

Nonprofit organizations can visit nocofoundation.org/covid-19 for grantmaking guidelines and application instructions; the next application deadline will be announced later this week. To date, the Fund has received grant requests totaling $1.2M, and the need in the community is unprecedented.