HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.04.20 Email from Lisa Almaguer Press Release For Immediate Release_ Butte County Community Testing Site Now Open
From:Almaguer, Lisa
Subject:For Immediate Release: Butte County Community Testing Site Now Open
Date:Monday, May 4, 2020 4:59:15 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2020
Media Contact: Lisa Almaguer, PIO: 530-966-1686
Butte County Community Testing Site Now Open
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – The State’s new community testing site, run by OptumServe, is now
open at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico. Appointments are scheduled M – F, 7:00 am to
7:00 pm for viral specimen collection. All persons interested in being tested must schedule an
appointment in advance.
Specimens collectedby OptumServe will be submitted to a lab for viral testing. Viral testing,
also know as PCR testing, tells you if you have a current COVID-19 infection. At this time, this
site does not offer antibody testing.
OptumServe will be fully staffed and set up to accommodate about 11 people per hour with a
total of 96-132 per day. This site will dramatically increase testing needs for individuals who
have had limited access to COVID-19 tests in Butte County.
Persons arriving to the site for testing should use the South entrance to the fairgrounds,
located near the intersection of Fair Street and E Park Avenue. Look for the “COVID Testing”
sign.
Testing by Appointment Only:
If you meet the California Department of Public Health's COVID-19 testing criteria and are
interested in getting a test, Schedule your appointment by:
Visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting
Calling 1-888-634-1123. Please note that phone registration will only be used for people
without internet access.
Testing Criteria:
Recently, the California Department of Public Health expanded eligibility for COVID-19 testing.
Anyone who meets the testing criteria can be tested at an OptumServe community testing
site, including uninsured, underinsured, undocumented and homeless individuals. More
information about who is eligible for testing can be found here. OptumServe will generate a
unique identification number for individuals who do not have a driver license.
Testing Payment:
If an individual has medical insurance, OptumServe will bill the patient’s medical
insurance company.
Uninsured individuals may also use the community test site, and their tests will be paid
for by the state.
More Information:
OptumServe: www.optumserve.com
Butte County Public Health: www.buttecounty.net/publichealth
###