Multiple COVID-19 testing sites in San Joaquin County will shut down Thursday because of an extreme lack of demand for testing in the county, health officials told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Greg Diederich, director of the county’s Health Care Services Agency, said approximately 20 tests are being administered a day, so testing sites such as Cesar Chavez High School, Franklin High School and Edison High School will close.
He said the county is working to keep two central testing sites in Stockton open at Delta Community College and Stagg High School.
“Our primary testing partner, HR Support, will require a $100 testing fee for people who don’t have insurance,” Diederich said.
As of Tuesday, the county’s testing positivity rate has declined to 2.2 percent, which compares to a statewide average of 1.3 percent, according to Diederich.
He said the county’s emergency medical services report as of Monday showed 25 COVID-19 positive patients in acute care hospitals, where patients receive active but short-term treatment.
“These are hospital numbers not seen in nearly a year and represent a 14 percent drop from last week,” Diederich said.