UCSC, Santa Cruz Community Health provide COVID-19 testing for underserved residents
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UC Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Community Health said they are working together to provide COVID-19 tests for underserved community members.
Scott Hernandez-Jason said that after seeing stories about celebrities and athletes being tested unnecessarily, scientists and staff saw an opportunity to provide fast testing to those who do not have access.
"We have the scientific and regulatory expertise on campus to provide rapid, accurate testing for COVID-19,” said Isabel Bjork, director of operations for the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute. “Most importantly though, we have committed researchers and staff who want to use their expertise to help our community. It seemed inconceivable not to act.”
Hernandez-Jason said the university's Molecular Diagnostic Lab has run more than 200 tests for the campus health center and community health center since it got approval on May 1. It is capable of doing 184 tests a day, but can surge to just under 400.
Officials said testing is critical to containing the spread of COVID-19 and reopening more parts of the economy.
"Given that the virus knows no bounds the community’s shared interests are more apparent than ever," health center CEO Leslie Conner said. "The pandemic reveals how interdependent we are—and the strength in working together."
