Community Update – June 10, 2020

COVID-19 Community Screening Update
Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) would like to acknowledge the long and unexpected delay in COVID-19 screening results from the May 24, 2020 community screening event held at RCMS in Gualala. 
 
The Public Health Lab is still processing the results from the screening, and all results have not yet been received.  
 
RCMS recognizes this is an unexpectedly long delay and we have been advised the delay is related to the capacity of the lab to process so many samples.  The lab has not been able to keep up with the demand for testing. 
 
RCMS is in regular contact with the Mendocino County Health Department about this issue.  As RCMS receives results, we will be contacting those tested.  Of the test results we have received so far, all tests have been negative.
 
This delay in lab processing is an important issue to those of us living in rural communities.  COVID-19 screenings are an important tool for us to safely and effectively reopen our society, businesses, schools and recreational activities.   We need to advocate for increased capacity for accessible and timely screening.
 
RCMS is committed to working with the Health Departments of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties to perform future screenings.  We will also continue to advocate for means to do this in a more timely, efficient and geographically accessible fashion.  
 
As a reminder, free COVID-19 testing is available through OptumServe in Ukiah, Santa Rosa and Petaluma by appointment. If you are going to one of these areas on other business, consider scheduling an appointment for COVID-19 testing. You can schedule an appointment online at https://lhi.care/covidtesting or via phone: (888) 634-1123.
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding.