As COVID-19 Variants Increase, Testing Critical to Tracking Area’s Progress in Curbing the Pandemic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2021

Testing opportunities available this upcoming week in San José, Gilroy, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Saratoga, Milpitas, and Sunnyvale

Santa Clara County, CA – Although more eligible community members are getting vaccinated each day, the decline in case rates is stalling and the region’s pandemic response continues to be complicated by more transmissible COVID-19 variants. With these factors in the mix, robust community testing remains critical, serving as an early warning system for possible rising case counts.

“There are many things at play right now. The County and its partners are working as quickly as supply allows to vaccinate, while confirmed cases of variants of concern continue to climb,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “If we let our guard down, we might join other states in the country that are seeing another wave of cases. If we can continue robust testing, consistent use of face coverings, and physical distancing long enough to vaccinate more eligible people, we will be able to keep the virus at bay.”

The County’s public health officials recently announced that the proportion of cases linked to more transmissible variants are climbing enough to signal a worrying trend, urging county residents to avoid travel, quarantine if travelling, and consistently use face coverings even if vaccinated.

For those who may have been exposed to the virus, testing remains free, easy, and confidential. It is available seven days a week and there are a number of options for different needs, including appointment or drop-in, drive-through or walk-up, and specimen collection by nasal swab or saliva. Frontline workers should get tested at least once a month and up to once every two weeks, and continue testing even after being vaccinated.

Appointment-based testing continues at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, with rotating appointment-only city sites this upcoming week in Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Saratoga, and Milpitas. Walk-ins continue to be accepted at standing pop-up sites in Gilroy and San José. Mobile testing buses will be in San José, Sunnyvale, and Gilroy.

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. Testing is free at all these sites.

MOBILE TESTING BUS SITES — Testing by appointment, but drop-in may be available if space allows. Registration for a patient ID is needed for this mobile bus testing and can be done online at lhi.care/covidtesting or by phone at 1-888-634-1123.

San José

OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Grand Century Shopping Mall, 1111 Story Road, San José, 95122

Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Eastridge Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San José, 95122

Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunnyvale

OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Columbia Middle School, 739 Morse Ave., Sunnyvale, 94085

Wednesday April 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Gilroy

OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Costco Wholesale-Gilroy, 7251 Camino Arroyo, Gilroy, 95020

Thursday, April 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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, 95111

Appointment hours: Monday, April 5, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, April 6 to April 8, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday, April 9, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday through Sunday, April 10 to April 11, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Los Altos Hills

Los Altos Hills Council Chambers, 26379 W. Fremont Rd., Los Altos Hills, 94022

By appointment only for Monday, April 5, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mountain View

Mountain View Center for Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View, 94041

By appointment only for Tuesday, April 6, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cupertino

Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, 95014

By appointment only for Wednesday, April 7, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saratoga

Saratoga Friendship Hall, 19848 Prospect Rd., Saratoga, 95070

By appointment only for Thursday, April 8, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Milpitas

Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas, 95035

By appointment only for Friday, April 9, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

POP-UP TESTING SITES – No appointments needed and only for people without symptoms. Testing done by saliva collection.

San José

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Road, San José, 95127

Tuesday to Friday, April 6 to April 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gilroy

South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Avenue, Gilroy, 95020

Monday to Friday, April 5 to April 9, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

County test sites provide COVID-19 tests free of charge, regardless of immigration status, and no doctor’s note is needed. 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.

All healthcare systems are required by the County order to offer free testing to symptomatic persons, persons who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case, and all essential workers. For more information on testing rights, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

All test sites 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.

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Public Health Website:  www.sccgov.org/coronavirus

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