Sanger opens free COVID-19 testing site
The testing is free to Fresno County residents with or without symptoms.
SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) -- The City of Sanger is getting a new state testing site for COVID-19.
It was announced on Wednesday during a briefing by officials with the Fresno County Health Department.
The state granted a site in the same model that was recently set up at Fresno City College.
The testing is free to Fresno County residents with or without symptoms.
Officials say next week when they open, they plan to administer 132 tests at the site on a daily basis.
Not only is this the first testing facility in the city, but also the first for the surrounding smaller communities.
"It will be at the Sanger Community Center. All of our parks and rec events are on hold canceled, so therein lies an empty building," said Sanger mayor Frank Gonzalez. "Nearby towns, unincorporated ones like Del Rey, Reedley and Dinuba, they can all come to the city of Sanger now."
The Sanger site is part of an effort by state officials to make COVID-19 testing more accessible to rural communities, the state's 'testing deserts'.
Tests are by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 1-888-634-1123 or visiting here.
They will be asked a few questions regarding symptoms and demographic before scheduling an appointment.
Priority will be given to those at risk and first responders.
Phone registration will only be used for people without internet access.
The testing is being provided through health care service OptumServe.
Several miles west of Sanger, Mendota has also started free testing by holding pop-ups.
Non-profit AMOR is assisting with the Swab clinics.
"A lot of them are undocumented, they have a lot of questions surrounding what kind of resources they can access during the pandemic and being able to offer this free test is putting a lot of them at ease," says Stephanie Torralva of AMOR.
The next clinic will be held this Friday in Mendota at the Rojas Pierce Park from 3 to 6 pm.
Meanwhile, registration for the Sanger testing location starts online next Monday.
For more news coverage on the coronavirus and COVID-19 go to ABC30.com/coronavirus
