Santa Rosa (BCN) — The Sonoma County COVID-19 test site in Santa Rosa can now perform rapid antigen testing, allowing residents to know early results within 15 minutes.
In counties, residents will undergo the BinaxNOW rapid test in parallel with the standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test, which usually takes 48 hours or less to produce results. The goal is to let residents know their COVID-19 status earlier so that they can take corresponding actions while waiting for confirmation of PCR results.
Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said that as large-scale events and county reopening provide greater opportunities for the virus to spread among unvaccinated people, positive COVID-19 cases have increased.
“While the Sonoma County test site continues to use PCR testing to make the final decision on COVID-19 status, BinaxNOW is an excellent tool to help quickly make decisions about quarantine and quarantine while waiting for PCR results,” Mase said.
Those who tested positive for BinaxNOW were asked to stay in isolation until their PCR test results came out. If it is confirmed positive, county health officials can provide additional resources.
Mase said the county has made great strides in vaccination rates and maintained at or above state testing requirements, but 25% of the county still has not been vaccinated.
“Testing remains crucial, especially for those who have not yet opted for vaccination. Delta variants are an area of growing concern, and we continue to urge all community members to get vaccinated as soon as possible.” Maas said.
Rapid and PCR testing is available at these eight Santa Rosa locations, and business hours are 9:30 am to 11:30 am, and 2 pm to 4 pm:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends testing for anyone who needs regular screening for employment, or anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 or is in a densely populated environment who has not been vaccinated. Regardless of the vaccination status, anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 needs to be tested.
More county testing information is available online at socoemergency.org/test or through the Sonoma County COVID-19 hotline (707) 565-4667.
Post time: Jul-09-2021