California COVID-19 Testing

Writer: Isabelle Do

As COVID-19 cases begin to skyrocket in California, access to proper testing and tracing becomes more important than ever.

Clinicians from 360 Clinic are administering the test kits at the Anaheim Convention Center, but citizens will do their own sample taking. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

With summer in full blast and counties easing restrictions against the advice of healthcare professionals, it's no surprise why California quickly became the number one state in terms of COVID-19 cases.

The beaches are filled to the brim with locals and tourists alike, not wanting to miss the summertime tradition this year. Restaurants are finding new and creative ways to provide the long-awaited sit-down dining experience. Students continue to keep graduation traditions alive, unsure of what next year may hold. With all this and more, we begin to see why cases have yet to stop growing.

Though care has waned, testing has not. Every day, countless of healthcare workers are put at risk as they strive to accurately measure the extent COVID-19 has affected Californians. From "supersites" to your local CVS, testing is becoming more accessible than ever.

The Importance of Testing and Contact Tracing

A common question asked when discussing testing is "Why is it so important?" Well, for several reasons including, but not limited to proper health guidelines, amount of necessary resources, prevention via contact tracing, and more. Additionally, catching the disease in its early stages allows for more effective treatment.

For a more developed analysis on the importance of testing, visit "COVID-19 science: Why testing is so important" by Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, American Heart Association Chief Medical Officer for Prevention. Not only is he able to stress the importance of testing, but he provides how this has worked for other countries and a useful video.

A part of the importance of testing is contact tracing. Where, if positive, healthcare personnel work with you to find out who you've been in close contact with in the last week or so. Once this is known, the people that may be at risk are asked to isolate themselves for fourteen days in order to help prevent the spread.

As the virus continues spreading via contact, it is important to prevent the spread, even if it's just a person at a time, via contact tracing.

Where Can I Go to be Tested?

The easiest way to find your closest, and most appropriate, testing site is to contact your healthcare provider. Most sites require an appointment and a completed questionnaire before being tested, others require a certain insurance provider. It will vary from person to person. Additionally, you may simply search "[your county] COVID-19 Testing Site" and your county may already have a list waiting for you.

If you reside in California, this infographic may also be appropriate to find your ideal location. This is may also be helpful share with other friends and family in California as the pandemic continues to affect our communities. This is also viewable from the "Resources" tab.

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