Clinica Sierra Vista tested 1,778 Central Valley residents, receives grant to expand testing

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Clinica Sierra Vista said as of Monday, it has tested 1,778 Central Valley resident throughout Kern and Fresno counties, with 283 positive results and 1,374 returning negative.

Clinica Sierra Vista said thanks to funding provided under the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it has received a grant of $2.2 million to expmand testing efforts.

Right now Clinica has 23 testing sites throughout the valley. This grant will go towards supporting COVID-19 testing and related resources, such as personal protective equipment, training for those performing testing, lab services, and expanding walk-up or drive-thru testing centers.

Funding from HHS will also allow Clinica to maintain staffing levels at screening locations, and respond to increased demand should the need arise in the future.

Clinica said nearly all patients who have tested positive are reporting mild symptoms, and are recovering at home. Most new positives are from family members in the same household, according to Clinica, and most tests have been completed at 34th Street and South locations in Bakersfield and Elm Street in Fresno.