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With the announcement that California will require state employees and healthcare workers to provide a COVID-19 vaccine check or get tested weekly, many testing centers across the Central Coast could see more people come for tests.
State employees and healthcare workers will need to have proof of vaccination in August or they will need to undergo a weekly COVID-19 test and wear their masks to work.
Depending on the state, healthcare workers may be tested twice a week, depending on whether they work in areas requiring care and meeting with patients.
It comes as the state experiences an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and an increase in hospitalizations. Health officials say the delta variant now accounts for 83% of COVID-19 cases statewide and the majority of new cases are in unvaccinated people.
Santa Barbara County is currently offering COVID-19 testing in a few locations.
Sites like the Santa Maria Fairpark accept walk-in tours, as well as the American Medical Response Center and Goleta Valley Community Center.
In San Luis Obispo County, the Paso Robles Centennial Park and San Luis Obispo Veterans Hall test sites also accept walk-in tours.
County sites aren’t the only places people can get tested. There are more than a dozen emergency care centers which may also see a slight increase in the number of patients.
San Luis Obispo Med Stop Urgent Care Dr Brian Roberts says getting state officials tested once a week could be a challenge.
“So they might have to do some on-site testing. If they ask these employees to go out and get tested outside of work, it will be quite difficult and we will help them in any way we can, but it will be difficult.” said Dr Roberts. noted.
He adds that his healthcare center offers three different types of COVID-19 testing options.
The exact details of how employers in the state will handle weekly testing are still unclear.
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