CA. National Guard sets up mobile COVID-19 testing site in El Centro

By Alexandra Rangel
today at 5:25 pm
Published July 9, 2020 12:11 pm

National Guard sets up mobile COVID-19 testing site in El Centro

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EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY)- Imperial County's testing capacity for COVID-19 is increasing.

A third Optumserve testing site will be opened in the valley and the National Guard has now set up a mobile testing site in El Centro.

The National Guard's rapid testing lab at the county health department can process up to 200 tests each day and can turn over test results in as little as 30 minutes.

The lab is on a referral base only and is meant for locals who are at high risk.

“Our focus will be on those high-risk groups, it could be our skilled nursing facilities, our first responders, and our medical community. those who we need to know very quickly if they have been exposed or have the virus," said Jeff Lamoure, ICPHD.

A third serve testing site will be opening next wednesday in Calexico.

Optumserve currently has a site in Imperial and Brawley.

The health department says the demand for testing has been so high that the state granted Imperial County a third site. The county hopes this will help alleviate the bottleneck in testing appointments.

“We've had a six to seven day lag period from the time that someone actually scheduled a test to the time that they were actually given the test. with the expansion in Imperial and the additional site in Calexico we ‘ve reduced that done to about two days," said Lamoure.

With the new testing sites being added, the Imperial County Public Health Department says the county has the capacity to test roughly 1,500 residents each day.

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