HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.24.20 Email from Lisa Almaguer - Fw_ For Immediate Release_ Butte County Increases COVID-19 Testing with One New Community Testing Site
From:Almaguer, Lisa
To:McCracken, Shari;EOC PIO;Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;
Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;McCracken, Shari;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;
Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug;York, Danette;Miller, Andrew;Soderstrom, Monica;Tara Sullivan Hames;
Aldrich, Mary Ann
Subject:Fw: For Immediate Release: Butte County Increases COVID-19 Testing with One New Community Testing Site
Date:Friday, April 24, 2020 3:46:21 PM
Good afternoon,
The below press release will be issued shortly.
Thanks, Lisa
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2020
Media Contact: Lisa Almaguer, PIO: 530-966-1686
Butte County Increases COVID-19 Testing with One New Community Testing Site
Sites being stood up are part of a partnership between California
and OptumServe
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to add
more than 80 community testing sites across the state focused on underserved communities,
Butte County will launch one testing site in Chico. The final location is still being determined.
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The planned start date for the new testing site is May 4, 2020. This new site is one of 80
testing sites powered through a partnership with OptumServe, the federal government health
services business of Optum, a leading health services innovation company.
Testing will be by appointment only. We will release additional information when
appointments become available.
“This testing site will help Butte County dramatically increase testing needs for individuals who
have had limited access to COVID-19 tests up until now,” said Dr. Andy Miller, Health Officer
for Butte County Public Health. “We’re thrilled to partner with the state and OptumServe to
help ensure our communities are healthy, while also helping meet California’s testing goals.”
To determine where to locate new testing sites, the state looked at both rural and urban areas
where Californians would have to travel between 30 and 60 minutes to reach an existing
testing site or hospital. That information was then evaluated based on underserved
populations, to address known disparities, and median income, so residents have access to
testing regardless of socioeconomic status.
OptumServe has extensive expertise in rapidly deploying and setting up health care services
and has worked closely with the military under the leadership of former Army Surgeon
General and retired Lieutenant General Patty Horoho, RN.
“OptumServe is honored to assist California in expanding COVID-19 testing for residents,” said
Patty Horoho, CEO of OptumServe. “We are bringing our full commitment and capabilities to
serve Californians, including extensive experience conducting large community health events.”
At maximum capacity, OptumServe will be able to support up to 80 testing sites at one time
throughout the state, increasing total testing capacity by more than 10,500 tests per day.
“Thanks to Butte County and to OptumServe for the collaboration to make these testing sites
possible,” said Charity Dean, M.D., Assistant Director of the California Department of Public
Health. “We’re working together as part of the state’s Testing Task Force to ensure regions
with the greatest need have access to tests, and these sites are going to be a major
component in reaching our testing goals.”
More Information about COVID-19 Testing:
Governor Newsom announcement to expand community testing in underserved areas
www.optumserve.com
www.buttecounty.net/publichealth
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