Make appointment online for times, starting Friday Sept. 11
Get tested for COVID-19 at a drive-through, self-administered test site established by the City of Berkeley near the center of town.
People can drive up to the site, roll down the window to get a lab kit from clinic staff, roll up their window to swab their own mouth for a sample, and then drop the completed kit with another staff member further away.
The process takes a few minutes. The testing is being run by Curative Inc., which had been operating a walk-up site in Berkeley and delivering results to people within two days.
Make an appointment online to get tested at this 3-week site, which will be located off the Delaware Street entrance on the southeast corner of the North Berkeley BART Station parking lot. Available times are from 9am to 3pm, starting on Sept. 11.
People who want walk-up testing should use the South Berkeley site that’s also coordinated through the City. Those with Curative kiosk appointments previously cancelled due to air quality should make new appointments.
Get tested based on symptoms, exposures
If you have COVID-19 symptoms or think you’ve been exposed, under federal law, you can get a test anywhere and your health plan must pay for it.
If you have healthcare, start with your provider -- who will be essential for any possible follow-up care. You can also use test sites throughout Alameda County and also throughout the state.
This drive-through only site as well as the South Berkeley test site have a primary goal of providing tests to those who have no other options.
When considering testing, you can check your symptoms using the CDC’s Symptom Screener or by contacting your doctor.
Testing is a snapshot in time --not a clearance for work
A COVID-19 test only tells you if you are positive at that moment. However, people can develop the disease up to two weeks after exposure to someone with the virus.
A test is not a clearance to return to work. Employers should not ask employees to do so.
An employee that has had COVID can come back to work when at least 10 days have passes since symptom onset and at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever (without using fever reducing medicine) and other symptoms have improved. 10 days after symptom onset and 24 hours after fever resolved.
The safest way to keep a business safe is by following the guidelines of local Health Orders, which augment specific industry guidance given by the state.
Act quickly on results
People without symptoms can have and spread the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Getting tested is an important act. But more actions are needed.
Start self-isolating at home immediately if:
- you suspect you have COVID-19 symptoms; OR
- you had a positive test for COVID-19; OR
- experienced symptoms within two weeks of being with someone else with COVID-19.
Do not wait for a positive test result. See the Health Officer's Isolation and Quarantine Orders for detailed guidance.
