FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2020
Santa Clara County, CA – The County of Santa Clara will offer COVID-19 diagnostic testing next week at additional locations. The County continues to innovate to better serve those seeking a test, and is now introducing appointment-based testing at some sites in addition to the drop-in centers.
This week, appointment-only testing will be conducted in Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara, Los Altos and Palo Alto. Appointments can be made starting three days in advance of the testing date and until all slots are taken.
Pop-up, no-appointment testing will be conducted in San Jose and Gilroy.
“While many people love the convenience of a drop-in testing site, others might prefer to schedule an appointment in advance to avoid waiting in line,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 Testing Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “We offer various testing options to give people a variety of avenues by which they can get tested for COVID-19 in Santa Clara County.”
POP-UP TESTING SITES NEXT WEEK IN SAN JOSE AND GILROY
No appointments are needed for a free and easy nasal swab test at either of these pop-up locations.
San Jose
Overfelt High School, Gymnasium – 1835 Cunningham Ave., San Jose, 95122
Tuesday to Friday, Aug. 11-14, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gilroy
South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Avenue, Gilroy, 95020
Tuesday to Friday, Aug. 11-14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Those seeking a test can check in at any of the pop-up sites and receive a wristband for an hourlong timeslot later in the day; they then can leave and return at the designated time to get tested. This significantly reduces the time spent waiting in line. However, the supply of wristbands depends on the number of available tests and are only available as supplies last. The County advises those interested in a test at a pop-up site to go earlier in the day rather than later to pick up a wristband. When the wristbands run out, people will be directed to other testing options nearby.
The walk-up testing sites provide COVID-19 viral detection tests free of charge without an appointment, symptoms, insurance, or a doctor’s note, and regardless of immigration status. Locations may change each week based on assessment of testing needs.
APPOINTMENT-BASED TESTING SITES IN SUNNYVALE, MORGAN HILL, SANTA CLARA, LOS ALTOS AND PALO ALTO
In addition, scheduled walk-up appointments are available Monday through Friday at various City locations for people without symptoms only. These can be scheduled online using a web browser other than Internet explorer. Appointments can be scheduled starting three days before the testing date and open until all slots are filled.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment
Sunnyvale
Murphy Park, 260 N. Sunnyvale Ave., Sunnyvale, 94086
Monday, Aug. 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Reservations open now.)
Morgan Hill
City Council Chamber Building, 17555 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill, 95037
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Reservations open now.)
Santa Clara
Central Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, 95051
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Reservations for this site begin Sunday.)
Los Altos
Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, 94022
Thursday, Aug. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Reservations for this site begin Monday.)
Palo Alto
Palo Alto Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, 94303
Friday, Aug. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Reservations for this site begin Tuesday.)
Future City testing sites will rotate daily through other cities in the county.
For those with health insurance, the County sites are not the only available opportunity to get a free COVID-19 test. Large healthcare systems such as Kaiser Permanente, Sutter/Palo Alto Medical Foundation and others are required by County order to offer free testing to members who:
- Have COVID-19 symptoms.
- Have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
- Are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 because they work in frontline settings.
Testing can identify COVID-19 before a person feels unwell or before they spread it to another individual with potentially deadly consequences.
There are currently more than 50 COVID-19 test locations in Santa Clara County, including those at community centers and schools, hospitals and clinics, and mobile testing centers. Summary data are published on the County’s COVID-19 Testing Dashboards.
The tests offered are viral detection tests, which diagnose a person who currently has the infection. Read more about the difference between viral detection tests and serology tests.
Take a video tour of a pop-up testing site to know what to expect.
For individuals experiencing symptoms or who have come into close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, the Public Health Department strongly recommends getting tested by calling a doctor.
County test sites and additional sites operated by other organizations are mapped on the County’s website at sccfreetest.org. The site is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Tagalog. Information is also available by calling 2-1-1.
# # #
Follow our Twitter for updates: @HealthySCC
County of Santa Clara Website: www.sccgov.org/coronavirus
Public Health Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sccpublichealth