Full Notification

FREMONT, Calif., April 24, 2020—During its third week of operation (April 17, 2020-April 23, 2020), the City of Fremont tested 650 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 650 people tested, a total of 44 people tested positive for the disease.  An additional 86 people were screened out of the testing process, bringing the total number of people served to 736.
 
Of the 736 people whose test samples were processed, 278 essential service workers, primarily comprised of first responders and healthcare personnel were able to get tested.  The Fremont Fire COVID-19 test locations have attracted 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 2,558 people served and 120 new COVID-19 positive cases identified since free testing began at the Fremont Fire Department Tactical Training Center 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) and will operate through Sunday, May 3, 2020.
 
Anyone unable to participate in the drive-thru testing system 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.
 
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. 
 
To receive a free 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 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.
 
An information line with City of Fremont COVID-19 testing updates may be reached at (510) 494-4292.  First responders and frontline healthcare personnel 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.