New OptumServe testing site ready for use Monday

North County site to process 165 tests daily

SANTA CRUZ >> A second OptumServe testing site, teased by Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel during a Thursday press conference, will be up and ready for community use Monday, according to a statement provided by the county Friday afternoon.

The testing site will be at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St. The site, operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, will be able to process 165 daily tests. To make a required appointment, visit lhi.care/covidtesting.

The county was in the process of finalizing a contract with OptumServe, the state- sponsored operator of the testing site at Ramsay Park in Watsonville, at the time Newel and her fellow health officials spoke about the regional stayat-home order. Recently, the county said in the prepared statement, the Watsonville location’s services were also expanded; it can now serve 330 people daily and is open seven days a week.

Senneca Diagnostics, a part of the San Franciscobased Tribeca Co., is also offering testing at Twin Lakes Church (2701 Cabrillo College Drive) in Aptos on Mondays and Tuesdays. The site can serve approximately 300 people a day. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on its operating days. To make an appointment, visit sennecadx. com/community.

None of the three sites require patients to have symptoms, though screening will be done at each one, the county said Friday.

To find all testing sites countywide, visit santacruzhealth.org/testing.