SLO County Public Health now offering free COVID rapid tests at 3 sites
San Luis Obispo County residents looking for a free, fast COVID-19 test at Public Health clinic can soon get results in as little as a half hour beginning next week.
That’s because the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department will start offering rapid antigen tests at community testing sites in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.
Previously, the community testing sites only offered polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which took up to two days to return results.
The antigen test results will be ready in less than two hours, sometimes as quickly as 30 minutes, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department.
Unlike antigen tests, PCR tests are processed in a laboratory instead of on-the-spot.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms who tests negative on an antigen test at a COVID testing site will be offered a PCR test, which are more sensitive than the rapid tests and could detect an infection earlier, the release said.
“Since the pandemic began, we have been working toward a day when residents could easily access free, plentiful COVID-19 testing with results available quickly. This is now a reality in SLO County,” County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said.
Public Health is closing its Morro Bay testing site at 209 Surf St. on Wednesday, March 30, due to decreased demand for tests, the release said.
While the pace of infecgtions has slowed, the coronavirus pandemic is not over, Public Health officials say.
Roughly 40% of the positive coronavirus tests processed by Public Health are due to the omicron BA.2 sub-variant, according to a past Public Health news release.
“If you’ve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 or if you have any symptoms, from a sore throat or cough to fever or headache, please take a few minutes to get tested. You’ll be helping protect your loved ones and help keep this pandemic under control here in SLO County,” Borenstein said.
Where to get a COVID-19 test and schedule a vaccine appointment
Free coronavirus testing is available at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Paso Robles and Morro Bay, with the Morro Bay site closing on March 30.
To make an appointment, visit slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/COVID-19-Testing ,or call 888-634-1123 to register by phone.
Testing is administered at 801 Grand Ave in San Luis Obispo, 1336 Ramona Ave #A in Grover Beach, 209 Surf St. in Morro Bay (until March 30) and 800 Pine St. in Paso Robles.
To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines and boosters on a walk-in basis at public health clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.
Vaccines are administered at the San Luis Obispo clinic is located at 2191 Johnson Ave., the Grover Beach clinic is located at 286 South 16th St. and the Paso Robles clinic is located at 723 Walnut Drive.
For more information on clinic hours, visit slocounty.ca.gov/COVID-19/Vaccines
Are you suffering from long COVID? The Tribune wants to speak with you
The prevalence of long COVID in San Luis Obispo County is currently unknown, but we want to learn how living with the lingering side effects of COVID-19 may have impacted the lives of impacted community members.
Fill out the form below to share your story and help us shape our COVID-19 coverage moving forward. You can also fill out the form at bit.ly/slolongcovid.
