The California
Testing Task Force hosted a second webinar for local
elected officials, local public health directors and officers,
and local emergency managers to discuss the rapid increase in
COVID-19 testing capacity and areas that they will continue
working on.
The Testing Task Force identified their key goals as increasing
the total number of tests per day, providing results within
24-hour results, a testing accuracy of at least 90% testing, and
equitable and convenient testing access. The webinar featured
presentations from the co-chairs Dr. Charity Dean, Assistant
Director of the California Department of Public Health; Paul
Markovich, President and CEO of Blue Shield of California; and a
Task Force member Dr. Christina Kong, Vice Chair and Medical
Director of Pathology& Clinical Lab, Stanford University.
The ability to increase COVID-19 testing in the state is of the
highest importance to the Task Force and has a direct impact to
the state’s ability to loosen current orders. The presenters
outlined California’s aggressive goal of 25,000 molecular
diagnostic or PCR tests per day by the end of April. In less than
a month the state has increased testing capacity from 2,000 PCR
tests per day to its current level of on average16,000 PCR tests
per day. The Task Force reported the current statewide laboratory
inventory shows California has the capacity to reach the 60,000
PCR tests per day goal. In addition to the PCR tests the members
of the Task Force are reviewing new serological tests that enter
the market as well as alternate methods of testing.
In order to increase the daily testing capacity the Task Force
reported more than 80 additional sites will be added to the
current 270 testing collection sites throughout the state. The
Task Force has begun developing criteria for where those sites
will be placed. The statewide goal is for a testing site within a
30 minute driving time in urban areas and within a 60 minute
driving time in rural areas. The estimated timeline for these
sites to be up and running is May 4.
As California continues to order the supplies necessary to
rapidly increase testing capacity the Task Force confidently
reported that the lack of swabs should not be an issue due to the
10 million swabs being provided to the state in upcoming weeks.
The Testing Task Force is working to develop a robust tracking
system that will be available to the public. As the Task Force
works to make progress on their stated goals, information will be
released regularly. CSAC will closely monitor for any additional
relevant testing information. The Task Force has
provided the
full presentation.
