Coronavirus testing site to open in Coachella

The city of Coachella is partnering with Twentynine Palms Band of Mission
Indians, Borrego Health, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation and the County of Riverside to open a new testing site starting this weekend.

The test site will be located on 85365 Dillon Road in Coachella, not far from Spotlight 29 Casino. The land is on tribal land, as the tribe is providing free use of the testing site and utilities needed to set up the test facilities.

"This is a public health issue that affects all of us," said Darrell Mike, Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman. "We all must work together to save lives and protect people here in the eastern Coachella Valley."

The site will provide LabCorp PCR COVID-19 tests, the first FDA approved at-home coronavirus testing kit.

Read: FDA's FAQ sheet on LabCorp PCR COVID-19 tests

The test will be conducted by appointment only and will take place on Fridays and Saturday starting on Friday, May 1st.

To schedule a testing appointment, call (833) 624-1097.

Health insurance programs will cover the costs of the tests. Those without health insurance will not have to pay for it, however, they will also receive
information and assistance signing up for programs such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh.

Borrego Health will coordinate the testing and provide staffing at the site.

"Our goal is to make the testing process as quick and simple as possible," said Corina Velasquez, Borrego Health Executive Vice President – Chief Operating Officer Riverside. "People will show up for their appointments, fill out some simple paperwork and get their test. They will then be contacted within a couple of days with their results."

The East Valley accounts for a lot of the coronavirus cases here in the Coachella Valley. As of April 29, Coachella has 123 cases, the second-most in the valley while the small community of Mecca has 28 cases, more than some cities.

Visit KESQ.com/Coronavirus for local coverage

Officials hope that by increasing testing, it will help reduce the spread of the coronavirus in the area.

"The Eastern Coachella Valley has been hit hard by the coronavirus," said Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez. "These tests are an important step towards helping people in need, reducing the spread of COVID-19, and slowly moving to reopen businesses."

"Increased testing is the key to getting back to any sense of normalcy and this new site will greatly help in those efforts," said Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.

There are other testing sites in Indio, Blythe, Perris, Riverside, and Lake Elsinore. Testing is available to all residents, even those without symptoms.

Call 800-945-6171 to set up an appointment

Symptoms

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the CDC.

You can call the Centers for Disease Control with any questions at 211 and 800–CDC –INFO (800 – 232 – 4636).

If you want to be seen at Eisenhower Health, call their 24-hour coronavirus hotline first at 760-837-8988 or 760-TEST988. Avoid the spread of this illness.