County Of Santa Clara Health System Surpasses 274,000 Coronavirus Tests Performed

Press release from the Santa Clara County Government:

October 19, 2020

Santa Clara County, CA – The County of Santa Clara Health System, which includes Valley Medical Center and Public Health, has completed more than 274,000 COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic. This is more than two and a half times the amount performed by any other large healthcare system, though all large healthcare systems are now required by local order to provide testing to essential workers and others they cover. The amount of testing in Santa Clara County, which significantly exceeds the state’s average rate of testing per capita, was a key factor in the county’s recent move to the State of California’s Orange Tier (Tier 3). “If you have been tested for COVID-19 before, it may be time for another test. Many workers need to be tested once a month or even more, especially if you have frequent interaction with the public,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 Testing Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “If you have health insurance, ask your regular doctor for a test. For those without health insurance, or for anyone who finds it more convenient, County-operated COVID-19 test sites are available to you right now.” Next week, appointment-only testing will be conducted at sites in Milpitas, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Palo Alto. Appointments can be made starting seven days in advance of the testing date until all slots are reserved at www.sccfreetest.org. Appointment-based testing is also available in San José at the Fairgrounds, with appointments now available five days in advance. No-appointment-necessary testing continues to be conducted in San José and Gilroy. 

FLU SHOTS On Saturdays through Dec. 12, drop-in flu vaccinations are available at the Fairgrounds Expo Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This Saturday, October 17, free flu shots will also be available at Valley Health Center Moorpark in San Jose, 2400 Moorpark Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available at sccphd.org/flu. APPOINTMENT-BASED TESTING SITES—make an appointment by visiting www.sccfreetest.org and clicking on “Schedule an Appointment Today” Text message results are available at appointment-based County of Santa Clara testing facilities. San José Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Parking Lot A (across from the blue arch) - Drive-through, bike, and walk-up appointments Across the street from the Fairgrounds main entrance, 344 Tully Road, San José, CA 95111 Appointments Tuesday-Friday, Oct. 20 – Oct. 23, 12 – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Milpitas Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035 By appointment only for Monday, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain View Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, 94041 By appointment only for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cupertino Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, 95014 By appointment only for Wednesday, Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campbell Orchard City Banquet Hall (in the Campbell Community Center), 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, 95008 By appointment only for Thursday, Oct. 22, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Palo Alto Palo Alto Art Center auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 By appointment only for Friday, Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. POP-UP TESTING SITES – No appointments needed and only for people without symptoms San José Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Road, San Jose, 95127 Tuesday to Friday, Oct. 20 – Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Gilroy South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Ave., Gilroy, 95020 Tuesday to Friday, Oct. 20 – Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The County test sites provide COVID-19 tests free of charge, regardless of immigration status, and no doctor’s note is needed. At some County test sites, people with insurance may be asked to provide their insurance information, so that payment from the insurance company can be collected. However, patients won’t be billed for any co-pay, deductible, or any other cost for testing. Those without health insurance or those who do not provide insurance information can still get a test at those sites. For people without COVID-19 symptoms, the County currently offers indoor and drive-through sites. People with symptoms are directed to drive-through sites to reduce the chance of getting others sick. The County of Santa Clara continues to remind those with healthcare coverage that systems such as Kaiser Permanente, Sutter/Palo Alto Medical Foundation and others are required by County order to offer free testing to symptomatic persons, persons who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case, and all “essential workers.” Examples of “essential workers” include teachers, healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, and persons who work in agriculture or food manufacturing. For more information on testing rights, see our Frequently Asked Questions page. The County also collects and publishes data on testing by large healthcare systems: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/dashboard-testing.aspx#hstesting. County test sites and additional sites operated by other organizations are mapped on the County’s website at www.sccfreetest.org. The site is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Tagalog. Information is also available by calling 2-1-1.

This press release was produced by the Santa Clara County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.