State Supported COVID-19 Testing Sites in Monterey County are Beginning to Close; Other COVID-19 Testing Opportunities Will Still be Available

 

Shortly after COVID-19 testing became available, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) entered into an agreement with Logistics Health, Inc, (LHI) to establish COVID-19 testing sites throughout California including in Monterey County. As public demand for no cost testing increased, LHI increased the number of testing appointments within local health jurisdictions and expanded the types of testing venues offered. Similarly, as public demand decreased, LHI decreased the number of testing appointments, locations, hours, and types of venues. 

Recently CDPH notified the Monterey County Health Department that utilization of LHI COVID-19 testing sites continues to decline in Monterey County, similar to declines in other jurisdictions. Consequently, LHI, in coordination with CDPH, will again be decreasing COVID-19 testing appointments locally, and across the state.   

The following LHI testing locations will be closed after January 22, 2023.: 

• 493 El Camino Real (Greenfield Unified School District Office), Greenfield traveling site 
• 435 Hilcrest Ave (Pacific Grove Unified School District Office), Pacific Grove traveling site 
• 940 N Main St. (Sherwood Hall), Salinas fixed site 
• 401 Gabilan Dr. (Soledad Library), Soledad drive-through site 

The following LHI testing locations will remain open: 

• 299 12^th St. (Monterey County Behavioral Health), Marina fixed site.  LHI will continue to monitor utilization at this fixed site. 

COVID-19 home testing kits are still available at no cost via federal programs that mail kits to households (https://www.covid.gov/tests/), and at local pharmacies at no cost for those individuals on Medi-care Part B, Medi-cal, and with private health insurance. Agencies and organizations serving the un-and under-insured can obtain free COVID-19 test kits for distribution through the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) resource request process (https://apps.co.monterey.ca.us/emsrequest). Organizations like the VIDA Project and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Mobile Van continue to provide testing opportunities around Monterey County. Testing locations can be found at www.montereycountyCOVID19.com.  

Testing for individuals that are at risk of serious illness and wish to be treated with antivirals may continue to schedule appointments at the LHI testing site in Marina. Individuals who may have worsening symptoms and wish to be evaluated and tested and treated may seek medical care at local urgent care facilities, emergency departments, outpatient health clinics and certain private medical providers. For people without access to a medical provider, Sesame Care has partnered with the California Department of Public Health to provide free telehealth visits to Californians 12 years of age and older who test positive for COVID-19 and would like to be evaluated for treatment (https://sesamecare.com/covidca). Sesame Care also provides telephone-based services.