Full Notification

FREMONT, Calif., May 6, 2020—During its final ten days of operation (April 24, 2020 - May 3, 2020), the City of Fremont tested 1,062 people for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Fremont Fire COVID-19 drive-thru and walk-up test sites.  Lab results validate of the 1,062 people tested, a total of 51 were confirmed as positive cases for the disease.  An additional 102 people were screened out of the testing process, bringing the total number of people served to 1,164.
 
Of the 1,062 people whose test samples were processed, 491 essential service workers, primarily comprised of first responders and healthcare personnel were able to get tested.  The Fremont Fire COVID-19 test locations have appealed to 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., United Ambulance, Washington Hospital and the Tri-City Health Center in coordination with the Fremont Police Department and Newark Police Department, has resulted in a grand total of 3,195 people served, 1,449 essential service workers tested, and 171 new COVID-19 positive cases identified since free testing began at the Fremont Fire Department Tactical Training Center on April 3, 2020.  
 
The Testing Center, generously funded by the City of Fremont, 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. 
 
After a month of administering free drive-thru COVID-19 tests, the testing site at the Fire Department Tactical Training Center has ended its operations to allow specially trained Fremont Paramedic Firefighters to transition to a mobile testing format in coordination with the Alameda County Public Health Department.  Free mobile COVID-19 testing, also funded by the City of Fremont and performed by Fremont firefighters, will focus on providing tests to high-risk and vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness, and nursing home, assisted living and long-term care facility employees through May 31, 2020.  COVID-19 testing for public safety, front-line healthcare and essential workforce personnel will also continue through the remainder of the month.
 
Although the drive-thru testing location is closed, the Fremont Fire Department partnership with the Tri-City Health Center continues for walk-up appointments at 39500 Liberty Street.  Available on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a limited first come, first served basis, walk-up appointments can be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. by contacting the Health Center’s appointment line at (510) 252-6808.  The COVID-19 tests are free to the public and available to anyone regardless of where you live, your immigration status or whether you have health insurance.
 
To receive a free COVID-19 test at the Tri-City Health Center, an individual will be screened as part of a two-part testing process and must have a fever (or recently had a fever) or any of the following qualifying conditions:

• Recent exposure to a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case.
• Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and/or other respiratory symptoms.
• Other chronic health conditions or diseases (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc.).

A referral from a medical doctor is not required to be screened.  After the initial screening process is completed, those individuals who meet the COVID-19 testing criteria will be administered the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which detects the presence of an antigen and involves swabbing of the nasal cavities and back of the throat.  Each person tested will receive confirmation of their test results within 24-36 hours from the time of the test.
 
An information line with City of Fremont COVID-19 testing updates can be reached at (510) 494-4292.  To stay informed about additional COVID-19 testing locations and resources in Fremont and throughout Alameda County, please visit the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Testing Resources webpage:  http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov/testing.aspx.
 
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.