Alameda County, along with community and faith organization and the City of Oakland will support outreach for testing to West Oakland residents  at the West Oakland Health Center, located at 700 Adeline St.

The hours of operation will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Saturdays 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The site will remain open for four weeks.

“When people come together in unity, the impossible becomes possible. It is with great pleasure and excitement to see the coming together of pastors and churches, Alameda County, the West Oakland Health Center, and the Oakland Post Newspaper — to bring awareness to the community that the West Oakland Health Center has become a testing site for the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Gerald Agee, pastor for Friendship Christian Center. “Science says testing and social distancing are the first lines of defense against the virus. Friendship Christian Center Church is committed to getting the word out about our new community-testing site.”

Testing will be free and available to anyone with symptoms and to any health care, front line, or essential worker even if they have no symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or a new loss of taste or smell.

You do not need to have insurance and you will not be asked about immigration status.

Testing is by appointment only and can be made at https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/covid-19-testing. Additional information is available on the Alameda County Public Health website.

“Our mission is to provide real solutions to health disparities in our community,” said Preston DuFauchard, CEO of West Oakland Health Council. “Increasing COVID-19 testing for community residents helps us reach part of that mission in the face of this pandemic.”

Saskia Hatvany

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