Actor Penn helps launch free walk-up testing site

San Jose site will be open on Wednesdays Sy Maggie Angst mangst@bayareanewsgroup.com

As Santa Clara County struggles to reach its COVID-19 testing goals, the region is getting some extra support from actor and humanitarian Sean Penn and his nonprofit organization, Community Organized Relief Effort.

The organization, known as CORE, has partnered with Roots Community Health Center to open a free walk-up COVID-19 testing site in the parking lot of the Antioch Baptist Church at 268 E. Julian St. in San Jose.

“Not everyone says access to a car. Walk-up allows access, and we believe that this helps us fulfill our mission of leaving no person behind,” Roots cofounder Aquil Naji said. “Everybody deserves the kindness and services we provide.”

Anyone can be tested at the site, regardless of whether he is experiencing symptoms or has preexisting medical conditions. There are no requirements to have insurance or any other documentation, and testing is free.

The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday, weather permitting. But based on the demand of the first week or two, testing at the site might be offered more days a week later on, Naji said.

At the opening of the site on the first day of testing, a line of more than two dozen residents snaked along a fence that went around the church’s parking lot.

Dan Bryant, a 79-year-old parishioner at Antioch Baptist, said he wasn’t experiencing any coronavirus symptoms. But as a cancer survivor, he wanted to be

proactive.

“We need all the help we can get to get rid of this virus, and the big thing is testing,” Bryant said. “My people have perished because of a lack of knowledge, so we need to educate our people.”

Fannie Davis, senior pastor at Antioch Baptist, said the site will serve as a critical tool for San Jose’s African American community and low-income residents that live near the church in the downtown area.

“This is a very critical time, and a lot of our people are not aware that more African Americans and Hispanics are dying for this virus and a lot of them don’t feel like they need to be tested,” Davis said. “But we have to learn to encourage them that this is so important.”

Penn, who is known for his iconic roles in movies such as “Milk” and “I am Sam,” has helped set up more than a dozen COVID-19 testing sites across the country since the pandemic first began, including ones in Oakland, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Naji said that he expected the San Jose site to test 200 people on Wednesday but that he had the capacity to test 500.

“We will not turn anyone away,” he said.

Preregistration

Those who would like to preregister can do so by calling 408-490-4710.

Test results will take one to three days to be returned, according to Naji, and will be shared with the county health department.

Testing also is available at a handful of other sites in the city, including at PAL stadium and James Lick High School in East San Jose and at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.