With Christmas just days away, many Central Coast residents are trying to get themselves tested for COVID-19. This, along with the increase in the number of cases, is now affecting community testing sites.
Many test sites in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties have no available appointments. Santa Barbara County officials say a major reason for this is the upcoming holiday season.
“Some of it may have to do with people worrying about the holidays. We saw that over the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Matt Higgs, EMS systems coordinator for Santa Barbara County.
Higgs is one of Santa Barbara County’s COVID-19 test leads and says availability at free test sites across the county is currently very minimal.
Some are fully booked, while the fastest appointments at others aren’t until Christmas Eve, in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
The results also last longer.
Shylo Tuter was tested at a county site in Paso Robles and calls the process quick.
“They took me back, tested me and I mean it was a really quick process there. I was in and out, which was great because I wasn’t feeling well,” said Tuter.
Tuter says she showed symptoms and believes this is the main reason she was able to get tested quickly.
Others without symptoms call the experience more challenging.
According to Santa Barbara County Public Health, county testing sites don’t require you to be symptomatic, but that may not be the case for other medical providers.
“Some clinical providers require some individuals to be symptomatic before being tested, but that’s an internal decision based on the organization providing it,” Higgs said.
At Med Stop Urgent Care in San Luis Obispo, Dr. Brian Roberts says he sees record numbers of more than 100 patients per day seeking testing.
“I’m going to Hawaii or I’m going to Alaska, I have a trip planned, so a trip or to see family members is just over half at this point,” said Dr. Roberts.
While travel during the holidays is discouraged by local health officials, both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties expect testing sites to be affected during and after the holiday season.
Santa Barbara County officials therefore say they plan to expand their testing sites very soon.
Prices for COVID-19 tests in non-county locations can range from free to over $ 100.
If you’re interested in quick tests, both Rite-Aid and CVS offer tests at multiple locations in SLO and Santa Barbara counties.
For more information about test sites, please visit –
Santa Barbara County COVID-19 Test Website:
https://publichealthsbc.org/testing/
San Luis Obispo County COVID-19 Testing Website:
https://www.emergencyslo.org/en/testing-locations.aspx