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Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: Donald M. Jardine, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith Thursday, May 28, 2020 To Help Alpine County Reopen By Getting Tested! Beginning as soon as next week, the Alpine County Health Department is opening new community- based testing sites to expand COVID-19 testing for Alpine County residents. This is supported by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and in collaboration with Verily’s Baseline COVID-19 Program. The goal is to reach into rural frontier California counties where testing has not been available as in urban areas of the state. Three days prior to an event, residents can complete a screening questionnaire on-line and make an appointment. All persons who are 18 years of age and older are eligible, regardless of whether they have of COVID-19 or not. TESTING IS FREE! A test using a nasal swab will be performed by qualified healthcare providers, including nurses and nurse practitioners. This will be performed while you remain in your car. Results will be shared with you within 2-5 days, and I as the Health Officer will receive positive test results through a secure data transmission process. Public Health Brief Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH Nichole Williamson Public Health Officer HHS Director Office: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 249 Office: [PHONE REDACTED] e-mail: [EMAIL REDACTED] 24/7/365 Emergency Contact Numbers Dr. Johnson’s cell: (760) 914-0496 Dispatch: [PHONE REDACTED], Ext 330 ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Health Department, 75-B Diamond Valley Rd., Markleeville, CA 96120 Alpine County Board of Supervisors, Phone: (530) 694-2281 District 1: Donald M. Jardine, District 2: Ron Hames, District 3: Katherine Rakow, District 4: Terry Woodrow, District 5: David Griffith Why should you get tested? You may say, “I don’t have any I have not been around anyone who is infected. There is not much COVID-19 in our area”. Evidence continues to accumulate that as many as 25-35% of persons with the virus do NOT have any and are contagious for up to 10 days. We have only had one laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 in Alpine County, but all of the surrounding counties have slowly increasing numbers of cases. That is where we may shop, go out for a meal or a movie - or a haircut! Alpine County has filed our attestation documents allowing us to move into an accelerated Stage 2 of Governor Newsom’s reopening plan. (See In order for us to continue moving forward toward complete reopening ,we need to know how much infection really is in our community. Testing large numbers is part of that strategy, as well as case investigation and contact tracing in order to effectively limit any spread. This will be particularly critical as we work with schools to consider reopening in the coming months. Stay tuned for more details. Testing will be done in various locations, with registration open 72 hours prior to a testing event. We will work with the local transportation programs to enable those without cars to access testing sites. Remember, if you have severe of COVID-19, such as high fever, cough, and shortness of breath, please seek medical care. Those under the age of 18 can receive testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Alpine County Health Department Clinic, by appointment only. Once we have confirmation of a specific site and date and time, you will receive communication so that you can fill out the screener and register for an appointment. TO HELP US REOPEN!