The state will start offering flu testing at its existing COVID-19 testing sites, the California Department of Public Health said.
With flu transmission increasing steadily statewide alongside other respiratory viruses like COVID and respiratory syncytial virus, the CDPH said it will begin offering no-cost testing for the virus at the more than 100 state-run COVID testing sites across California.
People with flu symptoms can receive their results in roughly 30 minutes and, if positive, can then discuss potential antiviral treatment with their primary medical provider.
“Older adults, immunocompromised individuals, young children and pregnant persons are at highest risk for complications of respiratory viruses,” said state Public Health Officer and CDPH Director Dr. Tomas Aragon. “Getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines beforehand, and treatment if you become ill, can help reduce severe illness.”
Testing sites can be found at https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html. Testing is available via appointment or on a walk-in basis.
People can also find information about COVID treatment and testing by calling the state’s COVID hotline at (833) 422-4255.
Seriously??? Since when does one need a “test” to know if they’re sick??
I can see needed a Doctor’s note we for time off at work.
But if you don’t know if you’re sick……
There are treatments for flu such as Tamiflu, but you need a positive test to get a prescription. Of course getting a flu shot significantly reduces your chances of getting flu in the first place.
Well wouldn’t a visit to your doctor if you are feeling sick serve the same purpose without taking every taxpaying citizen’s money again? I mean we know these tests are not truly free….most people have their own health care in some form so that seems the logical avenue to address their health concerns.
This is oft repeated medical misinformation.
Flu vaccine offers 1.5 – 9% effectiveness in any given year. The odds of reducing any symptoms is nil.
NOTHING IS “FREE”
@Clem
That’s exactly right.
Hey, how bout you feel sick, you stay home and heal up…yeah, kinda like we used to. Normally don’t need a test to tell me I’m sick….
And make yourself a hot drink and sweat it out. Like we’ve all been doing since forever
Yes, it is cold and flu season. I hope more learned their lesson in the last few years and got their immune system in shape. No reason to catch either.
This is not “FREE”. This actually comes at a huge price. Is this how you want our local government to waste your money?
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If everyone is already covered with private insurance or Covered California or obama care, how do they get to take our tax dollars to fund this?
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Do you even care how many times they take money from you for the same thing?
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Not only that, don’t people already know when their sick?
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Previous generations had a revolution because the government wanted to tax tea.
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Americans went soft and now we all pay 10X for the same thing. Enjoy
The second you say its free dummies line up in droves.You could offer a “free hole in the head” and a bunch of people that just saw the word free will show up.These are the same free stuff people that vote for EVERY TAX INCREASE because they think it’s for them because someone told them so.
They should try that. It would be a fun social experiment. Maybe wake up some normies.
Sounds like the best place to get flu will be a testing center
What are the chances to having free colonoscopies? Literally and figuratively getting screwed.
State run testing sites should be your first clue.
I wonder who is making money off this? Follow the money.
Highly questionable whether this makes sense. So you might find out you are positive for flu. All you can do with that info is take Tamiflu, but that only works if you take it super early, and it really just shortens symptoms by a day or so even when it ‘works.’ Is that marginal benefit really worth all this investment? OR is it just a play by the testing enterprises to keep their operation going? Notice this line: “the CDPH said it will begin offering no-cost testing for the virus at the more than 100 state-run COVID testing sites across California.”
When you are running a testing center and nobody cares about Covid testing anymore, getting a new government funded virus-testing contract is a godsend. The fact that it probably won’t help virtually anyone is beside the point.