New testing site at IV Fairgrounds off to a rough start
IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY), Imperial County’s new community testing site for coronavirus opened up Tuesday in Imperial.
The Optumserve testing site had a rough kickoff due to a delayed shipment in testing supplies.
The agency was supposed to start testing people at 7:00 a.m, but due to a delayed shipment, the agency had to reschedule Tuesdays morning appointments to a later time.
“I came early, too early so I had to leave and come back at two right now,” said Josie Cital, Calexico resident.
“I was told they were canceling the appointment, but the message was so garbage I couldn't tell so I just came anyway because I took an hour crossing the border anyway," said Ray Eskins, Mexicali resident.
Although patients had to wait several hours for their appointment, their main concern was getting tested.
“I’ve been at home, but I'm babysitting my grandkids so I need to get tested," said Cital.
“I'm very concerned because of my age, I'm 77 years old, compound with blood pressure and diabetes, and being obese I mean I'm fair game," said Eskins.
The IV Fairgrounds is one of the 86 testing sites the state of California is opening to test people in underserved communities like Imperial County.
According to the Imperial County Public Health Department, the testing site has the capacity to test 132 people per day.
Optumserve will be testing at the IV Fairgrounds for two weeks and will then move to a different location in the valley.
We have two additional locations in which we hope to move to. One is in Calexico and the third site in Brawley. We’ll gage it depending on the demands of our community at this site and the needs of our community for testing," said Jeff Lamoure, Imperial County Public Health Department.
Optumserve will be performing coronavirus tests for the next two months in Imperial County.
California Governor Gavin Newsom says he hopes to test 60 to 80 thousand Californians each day.
Coronavirus testing with OptumServe is done by appointment only. Visit their website at https://lhi.care/covidtesting for more information.
