Full Notification

FREMONT, Calif., April 20, 2020—During its second week of operation (April 10, 2020-April 16, 2020), the City of Fremont tested 768 people for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Fremont Fire COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up test sites.  Lab results confirm of the 768 people tested, a total of 39 people tested positive for the disease.  An additional 114 people were screened out of the testing process, bringing the total number of people served to 882.
 
Of the 768 people whose test samples were processed, 314 essential service workers, primarily comprised of first responders and healthcare personnel were able to get tested.  The Fremont Fire COVID-19 test locations have drawn people from throughout the Bay Area, requiring positive test results be reported to each appropriate county and added to the corresponding county’s daily positive case updates as the results are confirmed.
 
A working partnership with Avellino Lab USA, Inc., Washington Hospital, United Ambulance and the Tri-City Health Center in coordination with the Fremont Police Department and Newark Police Department, has resulted in a grand total of 1,822 people served and 76 new COVID-19 positive cases identified since free testing began in Fremont on April 3, 2020.  
 
Located at 7200 Stevenson Boulevard and utilizing a drive-thru system, the Fremont Fire Testing Center was created to alleviate the impact on hospital emergency departments, provide quicker answers for first responders and frontline healthcare workers with COVID-19 symptoms and better inform individuals so they know to isolate and help slow the spread of the virus.  The Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until the maximum number of tests available for the day have been depleted.
 
Anyone unable to participate in the drive-thru testing model can schedule a walk-up appointment at the Tri-City Health Center, located at 39500 Liberty Street, by contacting the Health Center’s appointment line at (510) 252-6808.  Walk-up appointments are available Monday through Friday on a limited first come, first served basis, from 1 p.m. until all of the afternoon appointment slots have been filled.
 
To receive a COVID-19 test at either location, an individual will be screened as part of a two-part testing process and must have a fever (or have had a fever) and be symptomatic for COVID-19.  Symptoms for COVID-19 include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and/or other respiratory symptoms.  A referral from a medical doctor is not required to be screened.  After the initial screening process is completed, those individuals who meet the testing criteria will be administered the actual COVID-19 test which involves swabbing of the nasal cavities and back of the throat.
 
The COVID-19 tests are free to the public and available to anyone regardless of where you live, whether or not you have health insurance or your immigration status.  An information line was created to provide COVID-19 testing updates and may be reached at (510) 494-4292.  A general information flyer (available in English and Chinese) about the Fremont Fire COVID-19 testing has also been included. (Please see the attached links to the PDFs.)
 
First responders and healthcare workers who are symptomatic for the COVID-19 virus and have (or have had) a fever can schedule an appointment for a test in advance by calling (510) 789-7231.
 
For more information and updates on how the City of Fremont is monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), visit our Coronavirus webpage at www.Fremont.gov/Coronavirus.  General updates will be made to the City’s social media accounts on Facebook, Nextdoor, Nixle, and Twitter; follow our channels at www.Fremont.gov/SocialMedia.