Central Coast COVID-19 testing numbers decrease
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION) As more vaccines are expected to be delivered to California, the number of coronavirus tests performed appears to be decreasing across California and the Central Coast.
“I think there is a very noticeable decrease in testing," said Dr.Blum, MedicalDirector and Infection Prevention at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
The testing done at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is a combination of patients who are going in for a non COVID-19 related matter but also people in the emergency rooms who are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms. The number of people coming into the emergency department has dropped at least by half if not more.
“So as the number of hospitalizations has gone down. and the number of people vaccinated going up the testing has really noticeably dropped off," said Dr.Blum. "And thats not just at the hospital emergency rooms but its also at the community testing sites as well."
According to health experts, this could affect the reopening of counties. One reason behind the decline in the community losing its fear of the virus due to the vaccine. They also believe that people who have already been vaccinated have also stopped getting tested.
"I think people are getting more comfortable now that case rates go down and the other thing is there is no major holidays coming up," said Dr. Guilarducci, the Santa Cruz Deputy Health Officer and San Benito Health Officer.
The Monterey County coronavirus data shows 245 residents were tested for coronavirus and received their results on March 1st. At the beginning of the year, more than one thousand residents were tested for coronavirus.
The latest data from San Benito County shows about 30 residents received their test results on February 13. And in Santa Cruz County health officials report that they are only conducting 30% of the tests they were carrying out two months ago.
"The bottom line is that the more people who are tested negative, the lower the positivity rate," said Dr. Guilarducci. "But when only people who have symptoms are tested because they are concerned, and not other people, the positivity rate increases. The effect of a lower test is more likely to increase the positivity rate than it is to decrease. "
