Several months ago the Board of Supervisors foresaw how variants such as Omicron could create an increased need for testing and directed County staff to secure as many rapid-result over-the-counter (OTC) antigen test kits as possible before they became high-demand items.
As a result, San Bernardino County is now partnering with non-profit organizations, community-based agencies, government agencies, cities, private schools and nursing homes to provide free OTC kits to ensure that there is greater availability throughout the county.
Since the launch of the COVID-19 OTC Antigen Allocation Program last month, the County has provided 116,861 over-the-counter antigen test kits to the people of San Bernardino County through partnerships with 295 agencies, including:
- 136 Community partners, non-profits, and other similar organizations
- 141 Local government agencies, including cities
- 18 Healthcare-related community service organizations
County-facilitated testing sites continue to operate at a high capacity in all parts of the County with extended hours of operation. The County-run sites alone have been testing an average of 7,000 to 8,000 residents each day who live or work in San Bernardino County. Appointments open the Friday before each week. Appointments for PCR tests are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted. Due to current testing demand, walk-ins will experience long wait lines.
All County-operated testing sites now provide free over-the-counter (OTC) antigen test kits to individuals who live or work in San Bernardino County (proof of residency or employment required). OTC antigen test kits offer results in as little as 10 minutes. Each kit contains two tests. There is a limit of one test kit per person. Learn more about how to read the test results.
The County encourages residents to visit one our County test sites if they are having trouble finding test kits elsewhere. Visit sbcovid19.com/rapidtest to find online or local retail options. Please do not visit an Emergency Room or Urgent Care for COVID-19 testing unless you are experiencing severe or worsening symptoms.
For more information on COVID-19 testing, visit sbcovid19.com/testing.
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