Coronavirus cases are climbing in San Diego and so is the demand for testing as the more contagious Delta variant continues to spread. County officials are opening up more testing sites to meet the growing need.
Reopened COVID-19 Testing Sites
-San Diego State Alumni Center (5250 55th St.)
-Central Regional (3177 Ocean View Blvd.)
-South Region Public Health Center (690 Oxford St.)
-Central Regional Public Health Center (5202 University Ave.)
-North Central Public Health Center (5055 Ruffin Road)
-CSU San Marcos (333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road)
This week six sites reopened across the county, one of the busiest being the alumni center at San Diego State. Officials said the site had the capacity to do up to 1,500 daily tests, and they expected to do around 1,000 on Friday.
"Over the last two weeks we noticed a rise in the demand and we wanted to make sure we were in front of that," said San Diego County testing coordinator Ryan Clabo. "With the delta variant, the demand increased that quickly."
County health officials estimate they are seeing an uptick in testing due to the more contagious delta variant and new workplace requirements. The newly reopened sites do not plan to be closed anytime soon.
"I’ve been having a headache and I have some swollen lymph nodes and just feeling really tired — just really out of it," said Riannah Bisco, a Mission Valley resident who was getting tested at SDSU Friday. She and her friend John Said are both vaccinated but are getting tested after not feeling well following a music festival where they had a lot of close contact.
"You need to know if you’re infected or not and with the free testing availability like this there’s no reason not to," Said said.
All tests are free and while some locations are offering walk-ups others need appointments.
"A lot of mucus, lung congestion, no fever — it’s not super serious but we’re having people over this weekend I wanted to see if I can get a quick test," said Ron Remillard from Hillcrest who was also getting tested Friday. He also recently attended a music festival.
"Catching a cold during the days after that seemed to be suspicious enough that I’d rather be safe than sorry," he said.
Everyone we talked to including Santee resident Scott Morton said they were getting tested to protect those around them.
"Not feeling real well despite being vaccinated twice — just want to make sure I keep my friends and family safe," Morton said.
Health officials are still doing mobile testing sites and health care providers are also offering them. Results are typically given within 24 to 48 hours, and some pharmacies are offering rapid tests where results are received within minutes.
