Yolo County, CA
07/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 16:37
Countywide Access to Antigen Tests in Yolo County to Replace PCR Testing by Healthy Yolo Together
For Immediate Release
John Fout
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
(Woodland, CA) - With the June 30 ending of COVID-19 PCR testing by Healthy Yolo Together (HYT) and Healthy Davis Together (HDT), Yolo County is reminding residents of the many other COVID-19 testing resources available, for free or low cost, to the community.
Retail pharmacies have home antigen test kits available for purchase, and insurance companies, including Medicare and Medi-Cal, are required to reimburse each member for up to eight tests each month. Many pharmacies bill insurances directly so customers pay nothing out of pocket. All U.S. households can order three rounds of free COVID antigen test kits through the US Postal Service at www.COVID.gov/tests for home delivery.
Yolo County has developed two additional options for antigen tests. First, residents can go to their local library to pick up a free test kit. Second, Yolo County will launch a pilot program later this month with five antigen test kit vending machines at always-open outdoor locations in West Sacramento, Woodland, Esparto, Winters, and Davis. Tests in the vending machines are free; residents are asked to take only what they need to ensure tests are available for everyone.
The State-sponsored OptumServe test-to-treat site continues to operate Thursday through Sunday at 2780 East Gibson Road in Woodland. In addition to offering testing, the site has telehealth consultation and antiviral treatments available on site for persons who test positive and are at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease, including persons 50 and older and/or who have underlying conditions.
"We have developed a variety of tools to help stop the spread of COVID, including widely available antigen tests that provide nearly instantaneous results. We no longer need to rely on PCR tests," said Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. "In addition to testing, wearing masks indoors is strongly recommended during this time of high COVID-19 transmission."
When performed correctly, home antigen tests are reasonable substitutes for PCR tests. Like any test, including PCR tests, antigen tests are not perfect. Antigen tests are not always able to identify infected persons early in their illness when virus levels are low. This means that if someone has COVID-19 symptoms and tests negative for COVID-19 with an antigen test, they should stay home and test again one to two days later.
While HYT and HDT saliva testing ended on June 30, Healthy Davis Together will continue to monitor wastewater in Davis for the virus that causes COVID-19 through the end of 2022 and expand wastewater monitoring to more communities in the Central Valley. Wastewater monitoring for COVID-19 has become an important public health tool to track virus trends in a community. Since wastewater doesn't rely on infected individuals to seek PCR testing, it provides an accurate and real-time indicator of community infections. This allows health officials to rapidly respond and encourage actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
To find information on COVID-19 antigen tests, Test to Treat, and other COVID information from Yolo County, visit www.yolocounty.org/covid.
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