Sonoma County partners with Curative to operate pop-up testing sites

As part of Sonoma County's efforts to expand and streamline testing options for residents, the County is partnering with a private company, Curative, to operate the County's pop-up testing sites beginning Monday, December 28. This transition will allow the County to increase testing of the entire community, improve efficiencies and, most likely, quicken turn-around times for testing results. Improving the ability to identify those who are positive and support isolation and quarantine is a key component to the County's strategies for slowing the spread of COVID-19, reopening the local economy, and getting students back in school.

"With the current surge in cases, it is more important than ever to continue testing and providing resources to COVID-19 positive individuals," said Supervisor Susan Gorin, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. "These pop-up testing sites ensure that everyone has an opportunity to get tested, regardless of immigration status or insurance."

Curative is a private testing company that currently operates more than 8,000 testing sites across the nation. It offers FDA-authorized pain-free swabbing that is self-administered. Instead of doing nasal swabs, residents will simply open a swab package, cough deeply three to five times and swab inside each cheek, upper and lower gum, underneath and on top of the tongue, and the roof of the mouth. This swab is then placed inside a biohazard bag and returned to the Curative worker.

Although Curative will begin administering the testing at the weekly community pop-up sites, the County will continue to provide bilingual and bicultural health care workers at each location to support community members with COVID-19 information and resources. The current schedule enables Curative to provide up to 900 tests per week to county residents in key census tract neighborhoods.

All services at pop-up testing sites remain free, but appointments must be scheduled through the Curative website (available in English and Spanish). For those who want to schedule an appointment but do not have access to the Internet, County Hotline operators are also able to assist with test scheduling at (707) 565-4667.

A key change to note is that appointments will now be open four days before the testing date—not earlier. As part of the scheduling process, residents will be asked to answer a series of questions, including insurance information. If they do not have health insurance, they can still get free testing. Residents also may walk up to the testing site without an appointment. Test results will be sent to patients by email, text message, or phone within 48 to 72 hours.

By partnering with Curative to administer neighborhood pop-up testing, the County is able to expand testing opportunities with federally qualified health care centers,   particularly neighborhoods in the lowest quartile of health outcomes. These residents are most at risk of serious consequences due to COVID-19. Individuals will continue to access appointments for these testing opportunities through our online scheduler or by calling the hotline at (707) 565-4667.

Beginning Dec. 28, Curative sites will open at the following locations and times:

Mondays

• St. Leo's Catholic Church in Sonoma from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays

• Andy's Unity Park in Santa Rosa from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Mitote Food Park in Santa Rosa from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday

• Healdsburg Day Labor Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday

• Coddingtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday

• Burton Avenue Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sonoma County continues to encourage residents to be tested for COVID-19. More than 348,000 tests have been performed in the County since the beginning of the pandemic. Although the state requires counties  to test at least 750 people per day, the County now oversees more than double that number, with an average of 1,600 tests per day.

Residents must wear a face covering and practice social distancing at all Sonoma County's testing sites. Visit socoemergency.org/test to find out more about COVID-19 testing options. Residents can also call 2-1-1 or text their zip code to 898-211 for resource information. For additional updates, follow Sonoma County on Facebook and Twitter at @CountyOfSonoma.