Health Officials Encourage Continued COVID-19 Testing as Rates Drop 34 Percent in the Last 2 Months

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2021

Santa Clara County, CA - The number of people getting tested for COVID-19 has decreased in recent months, worrying health officials who remind the public that testing is critical to understanding where the region stands in the pandemic, particularly as variants continue to circulate in the community. The COVID-19 testing rate in Santa Clara County has dropped approximately 34 percent over the past two months, with the number of tests per 100,000 residents falling from a seven-day average of 958 to 632.

“If we are not testing robustly in the community, it narrows our view of where the virus is circulating, and to what level it is spreading. Testing also allows us to break the chains of transmission and reduce spread, which gives the virus less opportunities to replicate and mutate,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “I know it feels like we are close to the end, with expanded vaccinations and many activities resuming, but let’s not drop the ball right before we cross the finish line. If you are at risk of exposure, either from work or other activities, get tested regularly.”

The County’s public health officials continue urging community members to consistently use face coverings, even if vaccinated. For those who may have been exposed to the virus, testing remains free, easy, and confidential. It is available seven days a week and there are a number of options for different needs, including appointment or drop-in, drive-through or walk-up, and specimen collection by nasal swab or saliva. Frontline workers should get tested at least once a month and up to once every two weeks, and continue testing even after being vaccinated.

Appointment-based testing continues at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, with rotating appointment-only city sites this upcoming week in Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara, Campbell, and Palo Alto. Walk-ins continue to be accepted at standing pop-up sites in Gilroy and San José. Mobile testing buses will be in San José and Campbell.

Appointments can be made starting seven days in advance of the testing date until all slots are reserved at www.sccfreetest.org. Appointment-based testing is also available in San José at the Fairgrounds, with appointments now available five days in advance. Testing is free at all these sites.

Mobile testing bus sites

Testing by appointment, but drop-in may be available if space allows. Registration for a patient ID is needed for this mobile bus testing and can be done online at lhi.care/covidtesting or by phone at (888) 634-1123.

• San José
  OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Eastridge Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San José, 95122
  Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  
  OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Tafatolu Church, 2510 Alvin Ave., San José 95121
  Wednesday April 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  
  OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Costco Business Center, 2376 S. Evergreen Loop, San José, 95122
  Thursday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Campbell
  OptumServe Mobile Testing Bus at Rosemary Elementary, 401 W. Hamilton Ave., Campbell, 95008
  Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Appointment-based testing sites

Make an appointment by visiting www.sccfreetest.org and clicking on “Schedule an Appointment Today”. Text message results are available at appointment-based County of Santa Clara testing facilities.

• San José
  Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Parking Lot A (across from the blue arch) - Drive-through, bike, and walk-up appointments
  Across the street from the Fairgrounds main entrance, 344 Tully Road, San José, 95111
  
  Appointment hours: Monday, April 12, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, April 13 to April 15, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Friday, April 16, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday through Sunday, April 17 to April 18, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Sunnyvale
  Sunnyvale Murphy Park, 260 N. Sunnyvale Ave., Sunnyvale 94086
  By appointment only for Monday, April 12, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Morgan Hill
  Morgan Hill Council Chamber Building, 17555 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill, 95037
  By appointment only for Tuesday, April 13, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Santa Clara
  Santa Clara Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd., Santa Clara 95051
  By appointment only for Wednesday, April 14, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Campbell
  Campbell Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1. W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, 95008
  By appointment only for Thursday, April 15, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Palo Alto
  Palo Alto – Mitchell Park, El Palo Alto Room, 3700 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, 94303
  By appointment only for Friday, April 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pop-up testing sites

No appointments needed and only for people without symptoms. Testing done by saliva collection.

• San José
  Emmanuel Baptist Church, 467 N. White Road, San José, 95127
  Tuesday to Friday, April 13 to April 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Gilroy
  South County Annex (formerly Del Buono Elementary) – 9300 Wren Avenue, Gilroy, 95020
  Monday to Friday, April 12 to April 16, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

County test sites provide COVID-19 tests free of charge, regardless of immigration status, and no doctor’s note is needed. For people without COVID-19 symptoms, the County currently offers indoor and drive-through sites. People with symptoms are directed to drive-through sites to reduce the chance of getting others sick.

All healthcare systems are required by the County order to offer free testing to symptomatic persons, persons who have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case, and all essential workers. For more information on testing rights, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

All test sites are mapped on the County’s website at www.sccfreetest.org. The site is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Tagalog. Information is also available by calling 2-1-1.

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