CALIFORNIA, USA — On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the activation of the California National Guard to ramp up COVID-19 testing efforts across the state.
According to the Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom, over 200 California Guard members will be deployed across 50 Optum Serve Sites to increase access to testing quickly, increase staff, and add walk-in capacity beginning Friday and throughout the coming weeks.
“California has led the country’s fight against COVID-19, implementing first-in-the-nation public health measures that have helped save tens of thousands of lives,” said Governor Newsom, in the press release. “We continue to support communities in their response to COVID by bolstering testing capacity.”
The announcement comes as omicron continues to spread rapidly across the globe, accounting for at least 80% of COVID-19 cases in California.
Six sites in San Diego County will be receiving National Guard support. Cal Guard members will be deployed across six testing sites in the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, National City, and Oceanside.
The Imperial County traveling testing site will also be receiving support from Cal Guard members.
The following sites in San Diego County are each receiving assistance from members of the Cal Guard and expanding operations on Friday, Jan. 7.
- San Diego - 5330 Linda Vista Rd, San Diego, CA 92110 (Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
- Chula Vista – 1301 Oleander Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911 (Open Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
- El Cajon – 200 S Magnolia Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020 (Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
- Escondido – 649 W Mission Ave, Escondido, CA 92025 (Open Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
- National City – 1221 D Ave, National City, CA 91950 (Open Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
- Oceanside – 3708 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Oceanside, CA 92056 (Open Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
