SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Sacramento County is opening four new community testing sites for COVID-19 in response to a steady uptick of cases.
The Sacramento County Department of Health Services will partner with UC Davis Health, StemExpress, and local community agencies to provide free tests at four new sites, according to the health department.
All four testing sites require an appointment to be tested. They all will operate for half a day and conduct 100 tests, Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said. The sites are in addition to the other five community testing sites that previously opened in the county, Kasirye explained.
Unfortunately, all 100 appointments for Monday's testing site at Liberty Towers Church in North Highlands were fully booked in just a few hours.
"It's no surprise, we see them booked relatively fast," Kasirye said. "We are seeing a high demand for testing in our county, but that's good news because people want to get tested, we encourage that."
Dr. Kasirye said although all appointments at the North Highlands location were booked quickly, there are some appointments still available at the other three sites opening this week in Sacramento County.
According to Dr. Kasirye, the county was strategic in choosing the locations of each testing site.
"We've placed them so that at least they're available in each of the cities and more likely to everybody in Sacramento County," she said.
She believes it is good news considering the high-demand for testing.
“It's definitely good, in terms of access for those that are not able to get to their health care provider or to the drive-thru and also better turn around time,” she explained.
Dr. Kasirye expects test results to be ready in three days or less, which is helping county officials get a better handle on case rates. More than 10,000 people in sac county have been infected, but in the past week, the average daily number of new cases has dropped by 35%.
MONDAYS
Liberty Towers Church
5132 Elkhorn Blvd., Sacramento
8 a.m. to noon
Appointments: 916-583-8877 or https://northhighlands.setmore.com
WEDNESDAYS
Oak Hills Church
1100 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom
8 a.m. to noon
Appointments: 916-983-0181 or https://folsom.setmore.com
THURSDAYS
Galt Chabolla Community Center
610 Chabolla Ave., Galt
8 a.m. to noon
Appointments: 209-366-7180 or https://galt7662.setmore.com
TUESDAYS
Folsom-Cordova Community Partnership Center
10665 Coloma Rd., Rancho Cordova,
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Testing at this site begins Aug. 11
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