Santa Barbara County begins state-operated COVID-19 testing
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. -- Santa Barbara County will increase its COVID-19 testing through community-based testing sites.
The County will be working with the State to increase testing for COVID-19 beginning May 1.
Santa Barbara County residents will be able to make appointments to be screened and then tested at one of the COVID-19 community based testing sites.
OptumServe was contracted by the State to operate these testing sites.
The goal of the testing sites is to increase testing needs for all individuals.
The first testing site will be in Santa Maria Fairpark at 937 Thornburg Street in Santa Maria on May 5.
Other testing locations will later open in Lompoc and Santa Barbara.
The tests will help verify the presence of COVID-19 and are not antibody tests to detect whether or not a person has ever been infected.
The sites will operate five day per week, the days and times will be adjusted to fit the community's needs.
Testing will only be by appointment.
The appointments will be completed indoors so it will require residents to exit their cars.
Though all are allowed to be screen, the following individuals will have priority:
- Health care workers
- First responders
- People who are 65 years and older
- People who have chronic medical conditions
- People working in essential occupations including utilities, grocery, food supply and public employees
- Any person showing symptoms of COVID-19
There will be no out-of-pocket expense or co-pay, and insurers of those who have coverage will be billed.
Screening and appointments can be made between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information on these testing sites, click here or call 888-634-1123.
