DAVIS, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2022) — Beginning Sunday, Jan. 16, Healthy Davis Together will implement a new COVID-19 community testing schedule with adjustments to the program ensuring continued access to free, easy and painless saliva-based PCR tests for residents of Yolo County seven days a week.
The program and schedule changes reflect collective strategic decisions made in collaboration with the cities of Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland as well as the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency to effectively allocate staff and resources and serve the needs of the community.
Beginning Jan. 16, the program and schedule will be as follows:
- Testing Days and Hours. To ensure testing is available seven days a week, schedules are staggered across testing sites. The Research Park (Davis) and Norton Hall (Woodland) testing sites will provide testing Sunday through Thursday while Veterans Memorial Center (Davis) and West Sacramento City Hall will offer testing Tuesday through Saturday. In addition, mobile testing units will be deployed later this month to offer free COVID-19 testing in Esparto and Winters.
- Testing Appointments. The Woodland, West Sacramento and two Davis city testing sites will continue to offer testing by appointment and walk-in. Appointments are recommended to minimize wait times. The sites will have different lines based on whether or not testers have appointments, symptoms or exposure to COVID-19. The ARC testing site on the UC Davis campus will continue to offer asymptomatic testing seven days a week by appointment.
- PCR Testing. All HDT/HYT testing sites will continue to offer saliva-based (“spit”) PCR testing for people with or without symptoms and exposure to COVID-19. At most sites, symptomatic saliva tests are conducted outdoors and may be postponed or end early due to weather or other unexpected circumstances.
- Rapid Antigen Tests. HDT/HYT is focusing on providing saliva-based PCR tests, which are more sensitive at detecting COVID-19 and must be processed in a lab. None of the HDT/HYT testing sites will have a clinical team to administer rapid antigen tests, which can provide results in as little as 15 minutes and be conducted at home. People with symptoms can still receive a saliva-based PCR tests at HDT/HYT testing sites except the ARC.
- Test Results. Results of HDT/HYT saliva-based tests are available within 1-3 days. It is important to check test results in the secure HDT portal when you receive notification that tests results are ready. HDT clinical staff will no longer call individuals who test positive. Notification will be provided along with additional information on isolation and quarantine through the secure portal.
“We are incredibly grateful to the community for their commitment to following public health guidance and diligently testing,” said Dr. Sheri Belafsky, medical director for Healthy Davis Together and director of the Medical Surveillance Program for UC Davis Health. “We are also experiencing the effects of Omicron and are making adjustments as needed to our staffing and testing schedules to continue to meet the community’s needs. We appreciate the community’s patience and the kind words many people have shared with us as they wait in line.”
With a surge of Omicron cases in Yolo County, it’s important for everyone to follow County guidance. Wear a face mask that fits well over the mouth and nose when around others and take steps to mitigate risk of exposure. Get tested if:
- If you have symptoms
- After you’ve been in close contact with someone who tested positive
- Within three days before traveling domestically or gathering
- Three to five days after a higher risk activity like traveling or gathering
For the most up-to-date guidelines for isolation and quarantine, please visit California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Healthy Yolo Together Testing Site Hours (Beginning Jan. 16):
HDT at Research Park (Davis)*
Sunday: 8:30–11:30 am
Monday–Thursday: 8 am–4:30 pm
Closed for lunch: 12:45 pm–1:30 pm
(Open on Jan. 17/MLK Day)Norton Hall (Woodland)*
Sunday: 8:30–11:30 am
Monday –Thursday: 8 am–4:30 pm
Closed for lunch: 12:45 pm–1:30 pm
(Open on Jan. 17/MLK Day)Veterans Memorial Center (Davis)*
Tuesday–Friday: 8 am–4:30 pm
Closed for lunch: 12:45 pm–1:30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am–11:30 amWest Sacramento City Hall*
Tuesday–Friday: 8 am–4:30 pm
Closed for lunch: 12:45 pm–1:30 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am–11:30 am*All four city sites conduct saliva-based testing for people with or without symptoms and exposure to COVID-19.
UC Davis Activities and Recreation Center (The ARC)
Monday – Sunday 8 am–5 pm
Extended Hours Wednesday: 6 am–6 pm
Closed for lunch 12 pm–1 pm
Saliva-based testing for people without symptoms.
By appointment only
(Open on Jan. 17/MLK Day)
All sites have free parking, though capacity can be limited at times.
Visit HeathyDavisTogether.org/testing to schedule an appointment and check for testing location updates before your appointment or walk-in visit.
Free COVID-9 testing is also available through your healthcare provider, by signing up through OptumServe and by making an appointment online through local retail pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid. For more information on COVID-19, available testing options and guidance on quarantine and isolation protocols from Yolo County officials, visit: https://www.yolocounty.org/government/general-government-departments/health-human-services/adults/communicable-disease-investigation-and-control/covid-19
Press Contact: [email protected]
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About Healthy Davis/Yolo Together
Healthy Davis Together (HDT) is a joint project between UC Davis and the City of Davis to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and facilitate a coordinated and gradual return to regular city activities and student life. In partnership with other communities in the county and the Yolo County Public Health Department, HDT has extended free COVID-19 testing to more locations across Yolo under its expanded identity as Healthy Yolo Together. Comments and questions are welcome at [email protected].
