Hayward updates COVID-19 Test Center screening criteria and operations schedule

HAYWARD, Calif., March 27, 2020— At the direction of the Alameda County Health Officer, testing at the City of Hayward COVID-19 Test Center is now limited to people with fever over 100 degrees and other symptoms of COVID-19 infection such as cough or shortness of breath.

The Testing Center, at Fire Station #7, 28270 Huntwood Avenue in South Hayward, is free and open to members of the general public regardless of where they live or immigration status.  It is scheduled to operate from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays or until the number of tests available for the day have been exhausted.  The Center will be closed on Mondays.

Previously, the City relaxed the test screening criteria so people who were not visibly sick but had known COVID-19 risk factors, were over age 65, pregnant or recently pregnant, or homeless also could be tested.

To get to the Center, members of the general public should enter Huntwood Avenue at Industrial Boulevard—then proceed north to curbside screening locations or backs of lines that lead to them.  Access to screening lines may be limited at times to provide for safe social distancing and to manage traffic flow.

First responders and health-care workers can schedule a test in advance by calling (510) 583-4949 but also must be symptomatic for COVID19 infection and have a temperature over 100 degrees.

The COVID-19 test entails deep swabbing of the nasal cavities and back of the throat, and then transportation of the samples to Avellino Labs in Menlo Park for sample testing.  Individual results are available within six hours or by the next day in most cases.

The Center is staffed by Hayward firefighter-paramedics who also are continuing to provide fire protection and 911 medical response services in the City.

The Center was established to enhance the region’s capacity to suppress new transmission of the coronavirus, take pressure off hospital emergency rooms and provide quicker answers for first responders and health care workers.  Generally, it can provide up to 370 tests per day.

For more information on the Test Center, COVID-19 and other ways the City of Hayward is responding to the health emergency, go online to the City’s website, www.hayward-ca.gov.

For the latest information on operational changes at the Test Center and daily test and results totals, go the Center’s webpage here.