The West Fresno Regional Center will join Fresno City College and the Sanger Community Center as OptumServe’s third free COVID-19 test site in Fresno County.

The site is expected to begin testing this week. The goal is to do 135 free nasal-swab tests a day.

Tests are by-appointment-only and can be made by calling 1-888-634-1123 or visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting. Phone registration will only be used for people without internet access.

Another OptumServe Site

The new site is powered through a partnership with OptumServe, the federal government health services business of Optum.

“Increased testing capacity is a necessity that has been an ongoing challenge throughout this pandemic,” said Buddy Mendes, chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. “I am happy to see the state recognize the need and help to make additional testing resources available for the benefit of all Fresno County residents as we continue to fight COVID-19.”

Underserved Area

To determine where to locate new testing sites, the state looked at rural and urban areas where residents would have to travel between 30 and 60 minutes to reach an existing testing site or hospital. That information was then evaluated based on underserved populations, to address known disparities, and median income, so residents have access to testing regardless of socioeconomic status.

“This new testing site will continue to improve our capacity to identify COVID-19 in the community and take measures to slow the spread of the virus,” said Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra. “The West Fresno Regional Center provides easy access to testing in an area that had been underserved and it will ultimately help our region in our efforts to fight and recover from this pandemic.”