Sonoma County Offers Expanded Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing for Vulnerable Individuals

Additional groups of high-risk and vulnerable people will now be able to get tested for COVID-19 at Sonoma County’s drive-thru testing site at the county’s Public Health Laboratory.

The site, operated by the Department of Health Services (DHS) Disease Control Unit, will now be available to the following groups:

• Health care workers (with or without symptoms)
• First responders (with or without symptoms)
  • First responders include people who provide 24/7 emergency response, first aid care, or other related assistance either in the course of the person’s occupational duties or as a volunteer and include:
    • Police officers
    • Firefighters
    • Paramedics and EMTs
    • Emergency Response Social Workers
• Symptomatic people over 65 years of age
• Symptomatic people with underlying health conditions
• All essential workers (with or without symptoms)
  • Examples of essential workers include:
    • grocery store workers,
    • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers,
    • construction workers,
    • utility workers
    • childcare providers,
    • or anyone who has continued to work under the Shelter in Place health order in an essential function.

The tests are free and available by appointment only by calling (707) 565-4667. The testing site is located at 3313 Chanate Road in Santa Rosa.

The other options for testing in Sonoma County are:

• State testing sites:
  Testing is available at sites operated by OptumServe, a health services contractor for the State of California. Testing locations are in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Appointments can be made online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting. People without internet access or who need to make an appointment in a language other than English can call 1-888-634-1123. Information and frequently asked questions are available at socomergency.org/sonoma-county-increases-covid-19-testing-with-two-new-community-testing-sites/.
• Through your medical provider:
  Individuals with coronavirus symptoms should still contact their medical providers to seek treatment and testing.

All tests are free and available regardless of immigration status. There is currently no coronavirus antibodies test. 

“Community-wide testing is a critical step toward re-opening the County,” said Dr. Sundari Mase, county health officer. “Expanded testing allows us to identify and increase our understanding of COVID-19 community spread. This includes collecting a broad sample of results, including data from those in specific groups and those who do not have symptoms. Upwards of 30% of people who test positive experience no symptoms, but can still spread the disease.”