Protect yourself, your household or your business with increased testing
You can now get tested for COVID-19 for free - and regardless of whether you have any symptoms - at a new test site in Berkeley.
Getting tested allows you to take steps to protect others in your household. Merchants can schedule blocks of time to test employees. Tests also allow public health officials to quickly identify and contact others you may have exposed and limit the spread to others.
If you have concerns about an exposure, don't rely on symptoms as many people with COVID-19 don't show symptoms even after having been infected. In addition, it can take up to two weeks for the infection to develop and for someone to test positive for COVID-19.
If you have symptoms, getting tested becomes urgent. Private providers have dramatically increased the availability of testing, so that may also be an option for you. The eleven possible COVID-19 symptoms identified by the CDC include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you are sick, see our guidance on how to care for yourself or your family if infected with COVID-19. Take advantage of this critical testing site, which was made possible through the advocacy and coordination of Berkeley Public Health.
“This test site shifts us as a community into a new phase, allowing us to more quickly respond to cases, identify exposures and limit the spread,” said City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley. “I am grateful to the quick mobilization of staff and the support of our Mayor and Council to expand testing in Berkeley.”
Getting tested protects you, your business, and our community
Community members, businesses and others can use this site on a regular basis.
State of California-operated COVID-19 Test Site in Berkeley
By appointment only
Make an appointment online
If you don't have internet access, call 1-888-634-1123Merchants interested in blocking out times for their employees to be tested can email oedmailbox@cityofberkeley.info with "group testing" in the subject line. Please include the approximate number of employees to be tested in your message. Community organizations interested in blocking out times for their employees to be tested can email ready@cityofberkeley.info or call 510-981-5329 for assistance.
Results take 2-3 days, and you'll be notified by the state's vendor, Optum.
Without a medicine or vaccine for COVID-19, pharmaceutical options to stop the virus don't exist. Get tested and help protect our community.
Testing doesn’t rule out future infection
A test is just a snapshot in time. Someone who initially tests negative for COVID-19 can test positive up to two weeks after the incident where they were exposed.
Testing won't protect you from infection. No medical treatment nor vaccine exists for COVID-19. But actions based on that knowledge are critical to limiting the spread.
Tests result in action for client, community
For positive tests, people will also be contacted by their local public health jurisdiction -- such as Berkeley Public Health, if you are a City resident. Any follow-up care would come from your provider. Many, if not most, will have mild symptoms and can take care of themselves in isolation at home.
Berkeley Public Health staff will provide information to Berkeley residents who test positive on self-isolating and begin the process of investigation and contact tracing to find any people who were in contact with the infected person.
Public Health staff then determine who may need to isolate to see if they develop symptoms and may identify others who are ill who would need isolation. These acts prevent spread. And it is critical work as we enter future phases of this pandemic.
Testing helps us prepare
Getting tested if you're worried or see symptoms is an essential part of our way of life in this pandemic. The other key acts are:
- Stay home except for essential and permitted activities
- Carry a face covering when you leave home and put it on when within 30 feet of someone else, as required by a Health Order
- Wash your hands with soap and water and otherwise use hand sanitizer
We are on a path to success thanks to so many that have taken those steps. Our vigilance in protecting ourselves and our community will help us move forward in what is still a long road ahead.
