(Santa Ana, CA) — Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to add more than 80 community-testing sites focused on underserved communities across the state, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has partnered with the California Department of Public Health to launch four new testing sites in the cities of Buena Park, Orange, Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano.
“This testing site expansion is helpful as we work to safely open our businesses and work on getting our economy back on its feet,” said Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel, Second District.
The State sites are powered through a partnership with OptumServe, the federal government health services business of Optum, a leading health services innovation company. “These new test sites build upon our ongoing efforts to expand appropriate testing availability for Orange County residents while helping the State to meet its testing goals,” said Dr. Nichole Quick, County Health Officer.
“This partnership is crucial in protecting our underserved communities as well as our health care workers and first responders who are on the front lines every day,” said Vice Chairman Andrew Do, First District. “It’s another important step in the right direction for Orange County.”
The new test locations were identified by looking at areas where Californians had to travel between 30 and 60 minutes to reach existing test sites. This information was cross-referenced with underserved populations to address known disparities and median income, so residents have access to testing, regardless of socioeconomic status.
“Solving local challenges is a cornerstone of my service to the residents of Orange County,” said Supervisor Donald Wagner, Third District. “Adding these locations to our local testing network gives our neighbors more options and greater access to the testing they need.”
The four new State sites increase the County’s testing capacity by 2,640 per week. When combined with testing presently available through the County’s existing OC COVID-19 Testing Network, a total of nearly 7,000 tests per week are now available for free for community members without insurance or who have been unable to receive testing through their health care providers.
“I am particularly pleased that these four new sites have been added to support testing in our underserved communities,” said Supervisor Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “I want to ensure all Orange County residents have equal access to appropriate testing, no matter where they live.”
At this time, testing priority is given to people with symptoms as well as asymptomatic health care workers, first responders, and social service employees and essential workers who do not have access to testing through their employer or health care provider. There is no out-of-pocket cost, though insurance will be billed if available. Additionally, there is no medical assessment offered at these new testing sites, so residents who access the testing feature are also strongly encouraged to call their health care provider for guidance on management of symptoms.
“I believe that knowledge is power,” said Supervisor Lisa A. Bartlett, Fifth District. “Now that we have the ability to test more residents, we can gather additional data that may help us refine our knowledge of COVID-19 in Orange County and inform our policy decisions moving forward.”
For more information on testing criteria and to schedule an appointment, please visit www.ochealthinfo.com/covidtest and scroll down to “OPTUMSERVE TESTING SITES.” Residents without internet access interested in making an appointment at a State site may call 1-888-634-1123.
