State-operated testing to push SB County closer to transition phase, health experts say

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Santa Barbara County announced Friday that three new state-operated, by-appointment testing sites will open in the County next week.

The first site will open at the Santa Maria Fairpark on Tuesday, with locations in Santa Barbara and Lompoc opening later next week. State contractor Optum Serve will operate the sites.

The goal for each testing site is 100-130 tests each day, according to Santa Barbara County Public Health. The testing will be done indoors, and not in cars.

Public Health says, in combination with contact tracing efforts, that the new testing will help the County reach a necessary milestone before it can begin a true "transition phase," where some businesses can reopen and some coronavirus-related restrictions can be relaxed.

“Having the testing and tracing in place is one of the milestones that Gov. Newsom and the state health department have proposed as the road map for transitioning into the next phase,” Public Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg said Friday.

County Public Health says about 100 people will be brought on to conduct contact tracing for those who test positive for COVID-19, with contact tracing training happening now.

Some county employees will work in contact tracing. The County is also looking to hire nurses and those with good interviewing and communication skills, as well as those who are bilingual.

Those found to have come into close contact with those testing positive will be told to self-isolate for 14 days after last exposure to those infected.

“This is a process that our disease control team is very familiar with, as we use it in a variety of disease investigations that have been year-round," Santa Barbara County Public Health Deputy Director Paige Batson said.

Any County residents are eligible for to make an appointment for testing, but some groups will still be prioritized. You can find more details here.

Those looking to make an appointment can visit lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123.