Nearly 4,500 tested over five weeks through City’s free COVID-19 testing center

HAYWARD, Calif., April 28, 2020—Specifically trained firefighter-paramedics and health clinicians tested nearly 4,500 people for coronavirus infection during the first five weeks of operation of the City of Hayward’s COVID-19 Testing Center, the City announced today.

Of a total of 4,497 people tested between March 23 and April 26, slightly over 11 percent were positive for infection with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease, according to lab results.

The figures include residents and employees of nursing homes and people who are homeless who are being tested by mobile teams in cooperation with the Alameda County Public Health Department.

The Testing Center, now located at Cal State University East Bay, was established to help take pressure off hospital emergency rooms, provide quicker answers for health-care workers and first responders with COVID-19 symptoms, and to better inform individuals so they know to isolate and help slow the spread of the virus.

Test results also are shared with public health authorities in the counties of residence of those tested—and by those county authorities with the California Department of Public Health.

The Testing Center, located at Lot A on the Cal State campus, is now open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, though it may close earlier on any given day based on demand or if the available number of tests for the day has been exhausted.

COVID-19 testing at the Center is free and available to anyone regardless of where they live or immigration status, provided they have a fever above 100 degrees or other symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath.

Health-care workers and first responders can make advance appointments for testing by calling the City’s COVID-19 hotline at (510) 583-4949.

To learn more about how the City of Hayward is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.hayward-ca.gov/COVID-19.