Mobile COVID-19 Testing Comes to Merced

Merced County will activate mobile COVID-19 testing sites for those showing symptoms of the disease, according to a news release from the county’s health department.
Testing will be done in two locations each week — one on the west side of the county and one on the east side. Specific locations will be provided to patients who have been given a prescription for the test by a physician.
“This is a huge victory for the residents of Merced County,” said Public Health Director Dr. Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp in the news release. “Being able to offer these mobile specimen collection sites will help ensure a more accurate depiction of how the COVID-19 pandemic in affecting Merced County. These numbers will help us better prepare additional preventative strategies.”

Testing Times and Days May be Extended

Each site will be open for four hours. Testing may be expanded to more hours and days if additional supplies and staffing becomes available, the county said.
The mobile testing service will be available, by appointment, to individuals who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and whose primary medical provider does not offer their own tests. Appointments at the mobile testing locations will be tiered based on the severity of symptoms and additional risk factors such as age, health status, and recent exposure to an infected individual.
Anyone seeking testing who does not have prior authorization will be turned away, the county said. Phone consultations for those without a medical provider are available at 209- 381-1180.