25 Apr County Ramps Up Coronavirus Drive-thru Testing

By Joel Umanzor Jr.

In an effort to increase testing among county residents, Contra Costa Health Services announced new phone screenings and appointments for drive-thru COVID-19 testing in the county.

According to an announcement Wednesday from Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS), residents who show COVID-19 symptoms will be able to call in for a confidential evaluation with a health professional, who will determine if an appointment is needed. The free test is available to anyone, regardless of health insurance status.​

“Testing is available now more than it ever has been since the pandemic began, and we have the opportunity to give more people the health information they need to care for themselves,” Candace Andersen, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, said in a press release. “Information is power and it will help us flatten the curve in Contra Costa.”

People who have a fever or cough, or are experiencing fatigue or shortness of breath, should call 1-844-421-0804 for evaluations. According to CCHS, these phone evaluations are available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“It is crucial to ramp up testing in Contra Costa so we can get a more accurate idea of the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” CCHS Director Anna Roth said. “It is also crucial for everyone in the community to have access to testing, to better protect themselves and their families.”

The county says screening and appointments will only be available over the phone and testing will not be available on a walk-in basis.

CCHS says residents who have appointments must arrive in their personal vehicle and will be tested on the spot inside their vehicles. Results on tests will be available in three to five days.

CCHS announced that there will be four different testing sites throughout the county located in San Pablo, Martinez, Concord and Pittsburg. They are San Pablo’s West County Health Center, 23601 San Pablo Ave.; the Martinez Health Center, 2500 Alhambra Ave.; Contra Costa Public Health Clinic Services, 2500 Bates Ave., Concord; and the Pittsburg Health Center, 2311 Loveridge Rd.