Alameda County unveiled a new COVID-19 testing site in Oakland’s Chinatown that offers services in 12 Asian languages, CBS San Francisco reports.
A recent Asian Health Services study found that a 3 percent rate of COVID-19 testing among Asian Americans, compared to an approximate 10 percent rate of testing of all ethnicities in California, according to Asian Journal News. Alameda County worked with Asian Health Services to create a testing site that was accessible for Asian Americans.
“Placing a testing site in Oakland’s Chinatown centralizes a critical resource within a community that carried the burden of stigma since the early days of this pandemic,” Alameda County District 3 Supervisor Wilma Chan told Asian Journal News. “But this virus has no boundaries and it’s essential for anyone who is sick, has come into close contact with someone with COVID-19, or is working on the frontlines to come get tested and receive care and support.”
The testing site is open to everyone, not just Asian Americans, and you do not need to be a patient at Asian Health Services to get a test. Payment and insurance are not required. Testees will not be asked about their immigration status at the testing site, according to CBS San Francisco.
“Alameda County’s partnerships with community clinics like Asian Health Services has been invaluable,” Dr. Jocelyn Freeman Garrick, Deputy Medical Director of Alameda County Emergency Medical Services and Lead for Alameda County’s Testing Taskforce told Asian Journal News. “Members of hard to reach populations are able to access testing from trusted providers in their communities.”
The site is located in Madison Park at 810 Jackson Street. Testing is available on Tuesdays at 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Appointments can be made atcolor.com/AHS.
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