Free testing for virus available
It will be provided in several county locations; saliva tests included
Free coronavirus testing — including saliva tests — will be provided at several Santa Clara County sites in the coming week, mostly by appointment but on a drop-in basis in at least two locations.
The county is offering two walkin, pop-up sites. They require no appointments but are only for people without symptoms.
One is in San Jose at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Road, and will be open today and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The other pop-up siteis in Gilroy at the South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary school) at 9300 Wren Ave., and it will be open the same days from 10
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Using only your saliva to get results
The pop-up sites are switching to saliva-based testing after a successful trial at Emmanuel Baptist Church this past week, officials said.
Saliva testing simplifies testing and is less invasive, “providing a faster and easier experience,” the county said in a news release.
County testing and vaccine officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib said that the county is seeking to make testing as easy and safe as possible and urged essential workers and anyone at increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus to get tested regularly.
People getting spittested must not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum for at least 30 minutes before saliva collection, the county said.
The county also is offering by-appointment testing at sites visited by a bus from the state coronavirus testing task force. Drop-in testing may be available if space allows, the county said. Registration for a patient ID is needed for this mobile bus testing and can be done at lhi.care/covidtesting or by phone at 888634-1123.
In San Jose, bus-based testing will take place at Andrew Hill High School at 3200 Senter Road on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Campbell, mobile testing will take place at Rosemary Elementary school at 401 W. Hamilton Ave. on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Appointment-based testing continues every day at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, and appointments there can be made five days in advance. The county will offer rotating, appointment-only testing this upcoming week in Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell and Los Gatos, and appointments can be made starting seven days before the testing date.
The fairgrounds testing in San Jose takes place at 344 Tully Road, in parking lot A, across from the blue arch, with drive-thru, bike and walk-up visits.
Appointment hours for the fairgrounds are from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both weekend days.
In Campbell, by-appointment testing will take place at Orchard City Banquet Hall at 1 W. Campbell Avenue today from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In Los Gatos, by-appointment testing will take place at the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center at 208 E. Main St. on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Appointments can be made by going to sccfreetest.org and clicking on “Schedule an Appointment Today.”
An influenza test is included.
The county provides tests for free, regardless of immigration status, and requires no doctor’s note.
At some county testing sites, people may be asked for their insurance information so that payment from the person’s insurer can be collected, but test recipients won’t be billed for any copay, deductible or other cost, and uninsured people or those not providing insurance information still can get tested, according to the county.
For front-line workers — including grocery and food service workers, first responders, health care workers, care providers, transit workers, child care and school workers, agriculture workers and people working in shelters and jails — current public health guidance recommends testing at least once a month and up to once every two weeks, with continued testing even after being vaccinated, the county said.