Riverside County opening 8 new testing sites, two in the Coachella Valley
Riverside County will open eight new testing sites Wednesday, May 6 increasing testing capacity by additional 1,000 people per day.
Editors note: The testing sites did not open on May 6. We reached out to county officials to find out why the sites weren't open and when they will be ready to open. Officials have confirmed both valley sites will be open Friday May 8.
Two of these new sites will open in the Coachella Valley, including the first site in the west end of the valley.
The following locations will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by appointment only:
- Mecca Boys and Girls Club
91391 66th Ave
Mecca, Ca - Moses Schaffer Community Center
21565 Steele Peak
Perris, CA 92570 - Mead Valley Community Center
21091 Rider St.
Perris, CA 92570 - Jurupa Valley Fleet Center
5293 Mission Boulevard
Riverside, CA 92509 - Nellie Weaver Hall
3737 Crestview
Norco, CA 92860
The following locations will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
- Lozano Community Center
12-800 West Arroyo
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 - Noble Creek Community Center
390 W. Oak Valley Parkway
Beaumont, CA 92223 - Valle Vista Community Center
43935 E. Acacia Ave.
Hemet, CA 92544
This is all in addition to the other four testing sites operated by Riverside County in Perris, Indio, Riverside and Lake Elsinore.
The new sites are being operated by OptumServe, a firm hired by the state to conduct testing, and each location can process up to 132 people daily.
Testing is free and those wanting to be tested can be asymptomatic, but must have an appointment.
"One of our key initiatives is to test as many people as possible and these new sites, combined with the testing we have already been able to complete through our county-run locations, will provide a good measure of what is happening with the spread of coronavirus," said Kim Saruwatari, director of Riverside University Health System - Public Health.
Appointments can be made online by going to https://lhi.care/covidtesting or those without internet access can call 888-634-1123.
Testing is available for everyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status, and is no cost to the resident.
"Testing is a top priority of Riverside County and the State of California, and I am pleased with this incredible partnership with the state to expand testing," said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "I am particularly glad we will have testing sites in Desert Hot Springs and Mecca, two communities with high need and essential workers on the front lines. Testing is for everyone, regardless of immigration status, and it is free. I encourage everyone to make an appointment, get tested and help our county and state continue to make progress on this crucial aspect of our coronavirus efforts."
Riverside County has 4,354 confirmed positive cases, 181 deaths, and 1,982 recoveries.
