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Bay Area health care company Carbon Health has brought its COVID-19 mobile testing clinic to the Metro 580 shopping center in Pleasanton for two days this week.
Offered by appointment only and with no out-of-pocket expense, the mobile clinic is open on Tuesday (April 21) until 6 p.m. and on Wednesday (April 22) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the parking lot at 4500 Rosewood Drive, near Party City.
The goal of the traveling clinic is to increase access to COVID-19 testing in the Bay Area, for anyone who has symptoms, believes they were exposed or essential workers who are at-risk, according to Carbon Health officials.
The turnout in Pleasanton was good on the first day, and there were still appointments available for the rest of the day Tuesday and during Wednesday’s daylong appearance, as of press time, according to spokesperson Danny Finlay.
“When choosing sites for its mobile clinic, Carbon Health focused on cities and neighborhoods in the Bay Area where they don’t have clinics and to reach as many communities in the area as possible,” spokesperson Samantha Lutz told the Weekly.
“Carbon Health has also looked at places with underutilized parking lots close to daily essential use — grocery stores, etc. — to make the visits convenient, while also allowing adequate space for social distancing,” Lutz added.
The company, which is headquartered in San Francisco, has partnered with Studio Dental on the mobile testing clinic traveling throughout the Bay Area this month, with other stops in Redwood City, Fremont, Napa, Novato and Vallejo.
Residents interested in getting tested must book an appointment online at the Carbon Health website. “Scheduling is essential to avoid overcrowding and maintain safety protocols onsite,” Finlay said.
“There is no out of pocket fee — most insurances will cover the test fee, and for those who are uninsured or not covered, they will be covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that allows all uninsured people to have their COVID-19 test fees waived,” Finlay added.
Patients cannot wait for the results onsite; instead the outcome will be shared with patients via the Carbon Health app that same day.
Article comes out today-says testing starts yesterday.
Website says no testing available in this state. Smooth move California.
The next thing we need to do with a to eliminate people here on visas from taking these tech jobs. We have 20 million Americans out of work.
Juan,If only that 20 million Americans are ready to take tech jobs. There are so many open positions and very few apply other than people on VISA for tech jobs.
@Juan and Truth,
This article is about COVID-19 testing, not tech visas.
Juan,
You can have a talent shortage and a high unemployment rate at the same time. The big techs always have a lot of open positions. Just check out their web sites. Some companies still have thousands of jobs available even in the middle of this pandemic. The talent pool is always limited. Having 20million unemployed doesn’t help the situation unless you have a STEM degree and you can code.
We have 10’s of thousands graduating from college each year. They should get first choice for all of these jobs being held by foreigners. People are not going to tolerate not having jobs. It’s going to get real ugly.
If you study computer science, it’s almost like a guarantee you will get a job. That is not a problem here. The problem is many students hate math and don’t want to pursue STEM from the beginning. At this difficult time, it’s so convenient to scapegoat immigrants. But it’s not a solution except for channeling some negative feelings. I think UBI is probably a good option to help 20million unemployed and the economy.
I was laid off twice for H1 visas – after I trained them. Don’t say I didn’t have the skills. I trained them. FYI from what I read that’s illegal but H1s cost the company money so they want to keep what then was cheaper labor.
The second time my H1 visa manager said – they can’t lay me off. I’d have to go back to India and take a 22K pay cut. I told him, “I don’t have a country to go back to.” 6 months later (4 on paper) I took a 22K pay cut still living here in Pleasanton. I’m finally back where I was.
I told my kids that they should not get into IT – wrong race/country. One is practicing in the medical field and the other is in business. The one in medicine had considered pharmacy but she hated chemistry (aced it but hated it.) I told her to look for something else.
I’m still working in computer science. However, just because you keep current in skills and have an MS CS doesn’t mean you’ll have a job. Face to face careers are a better bet and those they don’t outsource to another country.
I agree with Juan.
“We have 10’s of thousands graduating from college each year. They should get first choice for all of these jobs being held by foreigners. ”
My son graduated with a BS Computer Science Software Engineering degree and was unable to get a proper job so now works for a third party IT firm making half the amount of money after college, for the past 2 years…
Many of the big companies (APPLE, CISCO…) hire 3rd party IT firms to make it cheaper for them and the 3rd party firms take advantage of new graduates, because they know most companies don’t hire right out of college unless they have connections. It’s VERY DISHEARTENING. Even now with 2 years experience, it’s impossible to even get an interview! His firm is paying him during this COVID19 shut down (he is grateful), but they CUT HIS MEDICAL!! How unethical… companies like this should be ashamed of themselves. HR won’t even get back to him with answers about his lack of medical and what he needs to do to get it back. UGH!
USCIS has placed additional scrutiny on H-1B Visa petitions. If you have any evidences showing your company has illegally replaced Americans with foreign, cheap workers, you can report or sue the company.
I am more interested in a mobile antibodies testing site.
This is not antibodies testing. It is a test for people who have current symptoms. If you test there ask what they do with your results. Ask who they report to. There are reports some people have to stay in random hotels and make sure you are comfortable if they ask you to quarantine for a month and traced for months or years. Know your HIPPA rights
@”hippa”,
I think you mean HIPPA? Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?
Do you have any links to these reports about “random hotels”? And why on earth wouldn’t you want to quarantine if you test positive?
Juan, I pity you. Blaming others for your own failings isn’t going to get you anywhere. You might feel better writing this but we see the sadness in your soul. It’s time for therapy, or re-education. Weakness will get you nowhere.
This is dumb, open up the state, safely.
Instead of figuring out how to keep people at home, work on back to work and back to social life policies.
I’ll wear a stupid mask if you let us get back to life as we know it. I’ll wash my hands 40x/day. I’ll sneeze in my elbow under fear of citation-able offense.
Now I’m hearing schools might remain closed in the fall?! How do you expect working parents to manage that ?! Assuming there is still work.
Figure out how to get back to work/life safely now.
Is it time yet for the 25th Amendment? Seriously:
Donald Trump: “I’m not a doctor, but I have common sense.”
“Trump mentions injecting ‘disinfectant’ to fight coronavirus” – SFGate, 1/23/20
“Trump Suggests Injecting Disinfectant as Potential Coronavirus Treatment” – NY Mag
“Trump suggests ‘injection’ of disinfectant to beat coronavirus and ‘clean’ the lungs” – MSN
“Trump Dragged for Irresponsibly Floating ‘Injection’ of Disinfectants Into Covid-19 Patients” – MediaLite
“Dr. Birx appears utterly horrified as Trump babbles about killing coronavirus with disinfectant injections” – RawStory
@Pleasanton Parent
Thank God you’re just a neighborhood bore, and not someone in a position of influence! Those “stupid face masks” make a difference to control the spread but I doubt someone of your intellect could grasp that. Try reading.
I’m your kids teacher
Seriously though.
Show me the probability of contracting this with 6’ separation, increased hand washing, no face touching, quarantine for the sick, cough/sneezing into elbow all as std behavior, and wiping down surfaces hourly m.
None of the studies talk about infection rates, they just state the virus may be possible to live in the environment (oh at a far lower strength as well)
And if it is effective, the hypocrisy in the adherence by those shaming others is laudable. Great – you wore it to the store but just ran through the neighborhood with your neighbor talking the whole time wearing no mask. Give me a break.
@Pleasanton parent,
You have no idea what you are talking about. Do what the experts tell you to do.
BobB,
You have every right to follow guidance. I have every right to challenge it.
Can you tell me the percentage of cases we’re addressing by layering in the use of non-n95 masks 0.001% , 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, what part of the problem are we addressing.
Yesterday I heard an expert say we can’t realistically talk about ever going back to bars, graduations, or any large gatherings until we have 100% containment?! Crazy talk, there’s always going to be a transmission baseline that we should set as “normal”, notice no politician or expert has set an end target for what “normal” should be?
We can’t rely solely on science, it’s a piece of the puzzle to be added to input from economists, business, data analysts, and world leaders. If we only leave it to scientists we’ll be stuck in “which scientists to believe “ and potentially looking for perfection.
@Pleasanton parent,
Challenge it all you want. Just follow the rules.
I’ll follow the ones guided by logic, science, and some degree of risk adversity – not ones blanketed in fear and unknown.
Science once proved witches float, the earth was flat, and Pluto was a planet……people through people in the water to see if they floated, obviously killing those that turned out not to be witches……pretty close parallel to our economy today.
@Pleasanton Parent,
“Science once proved witches float”
No. Modern science didn’t exist in the 1600’s
” the earth was flat”
No. Ancient Greeks knew it was not thousands of years ago. Long before modern science.
“and Pluto was a planet”
That was never a question for science anymore than the question of whether Australia was a continent of an island. It is arbitrary.
Follow the rules.
Nice qualifier there BobB, “modern science “
……just send me your billing address so I can fwd my bills and I’ll comply all you want. But if you’re not picking up the tab, I think you should check your privilege.
@Pleasnton Parent,
How much does it cost you to wear a mask and not have a dozen friends over for a gathering?
@Pleasanton Parent,
Okay, if you don’t like “modern science”, then “modern medicine”, which really began around World War 2.
Like I said Bob, let me know where to forward my bills.
You want to restrict my right to income but still charge me. Pay my bills and I’ll wear a mask.
Easy to say what to do when you don’t have to pay for it huh?
The government needs to be paying your bills, and if they aren’t that’s their failing. Have you applied for a small business loan oh, and for unemployment insurance? Right now you can get about $1,000 a week in unemployment insurance, plus your business should be able to get a small business loan. I agree the government has been remiss in getting this out to people. If they’re going to kill your business they should be paying your bills. I agree with you.
Wear a mask either way. You don’t get to choose. I, my children, and about 90 percent of us are willing to pay your bills if your pay was cut off.
Nice deflection, “someone else should do it”
You want me to wear a mask, pay my bills. If you’re not personally willing to accept the financial burden associated with the perceived social benefit then maybe it’s not the right thing to be asking people to do? Kind of changes how we look at these decisions doesn’t it?
I really wish all tax/bond/etc proposals explicitly stated in the voter language; this initiative will cost you $X/yr (est), a “yes” vote will result in you personally paying this amount. Are you accepting that personal cost for the initiative benefit?”
Today we talk up the benefit, and vote on it, but ignore the cost because “saving lives” and “for the children” are moral values being presented as financial costs…..but the harsh reality is the implementation of moral / social initiatives cost real dollars and we are foolish if we ignore them as part of the cost/benefit.
So again, I ask, what percentage of the problem are we addressing by layering masks on top of closing business, staying home, six ft separation, increased hand washing, etc, etc.
You want to make wearing a mask (n-95 or better) a policy requirement so we can go back to work? Fine, I’m in. But if you can’t show me the actual benefit or how it leads us to a end to this, sorry, I’m going to question the value.
@Pleasanton Parent,
Did you not read what I said? Yes, I and my children, and your children will be paying your bills. That’s what the new forgivable small business loans and dramatically increased unemployment insurance are for. That’s that extra $2.7 trillion that our leaders approved. Have you applied?
There’s no deflection.
“So again, I ask, what percentage of the problem are we addressing by layering masks on top of closing business, staying home, six ft separation, increased hand washing, etc, etc.”
Good lord, why would you ask me that? I’m no expert and don’t work for the government or set public policy. I do what experts and the law say to do. Those rules are there to keep us all safe. I vaccinate my children. I don’t drink and drive. I stay at home except for essential trips and exercise. I wear a mask. Why is that so hard?
BobB,
That’s a triage fund.
I’m glad you’re supporting the efforts, I’m saddened you do so without asking to see the justification behind why.
Here we fundamentally disagree on what is a reasonable expectation of action / benefit/ cost and justification, and that’s ok. I’m glad we live in a country where we can disagree without fear of retaliation.
I’ve explained why I disagree with the current approach, you’ve stated why you believe it’s the right thing to do. I respect your decision, please respect mine.
WOMBAT SAID: Is it time yet for the 25th Amendment? Seriously:
Donald Trump: “I’m not a doctor, but I have common sense.”
“Trump mentions injecting ‘disinfectant’ to fight coronavirus” – SFGate, 1/23/20
“Trump Suggests Injecting Disinfectant as Potential Coronavirus Treatment” – NY Mag
“Trump suggests ‘injection’ of disinfectant to beat coronavirus and ‘clean’ the lungs” – MSN
“Trump Dragged for Irresponsibly Floating ‘Injection’ of Disinfectants Into Covid-19 Patients” – MediaLite
“Dr. Birx appears utterly horrified as Trump babbles about killing coronavirus with disinfectant injections” – RawStory
Right, except that none of that is actually true.
Its amazing to me how easy it is to misquote and fabricate so called “news” and some people will still believe it.
This is the reason our country is so divided. Truth no longer matters, ideology is all that matters and any sense integrity be damned.
Comments like this are not helping.
@sanity,
Did you watch that press conference or whatever it was? It was a train wreck. A disaster. Did you listen to what Trump said? Listen to the crazy business about bright light shined on the body and all that? Go back and look at the original conference. I don’t think any of those quotes are very far from what went down. Go look for yourself.
@BobB Yeah I saw it, and that is not what he said, I suggest YOU go back and watch it and be honest about it. He said something LIKE cleaning the blood. Ideologues don’t want to hear that part, they just attack and its disgusting.
@sanity,
Go back and watch it again. He wasn’t taken out of context. He wasn’t being sarcastic. He was being deadly serious. He wasn’t answering a question from a reporter, he was addressing Dr Birx. Listen to the nonsense about shining bright lights. Just watch the thing. Are you seriously telling me you think that was anything but an unmitigated disaster? Watch the original, not some edited version.
Sanity, what? It is exactly what he said. Transcript:
“So I asked Bill a question some of you are thinking of if you’re into that world, which I find to be pretty interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether its ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said, that hasn’t been checked but you’re gonna test it. And then I said, supposing it brought the light inside the body, which you can either do either through the skin or some other way, and I think you said you’re gonna test that too, sounds interesting. And I then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute, and is there a way you can do something like that by injection inside, or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs, and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it’d be interesting to check that. So you’re going to have to use medical doctors, but it sounds interesting to me, so we’ll see. But the whole concept of the light, the way it goes in one minute, that’s pretty powerful.”
I fail to see anything wrong with that statement.
Hes making “suggestions” based on actual known remedy’s.
You know what else is “Like cleaning the blood?” Dialysis.
Now go tell all the kidney patients that the idea of cleaning there blood is a stupid idea.
We all know that UV light does in fact kill germs and bacteria, so pretending this is anything but a concerned President who is not a doctor making suggestions to save peoples lives is nothing short of political BS. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
@sanity,
The “suggestions” are so absurd that anyone with a decent understanding of high school level science (chemistry, physics, biology), would find laughable.
You use UV light to sanitize surfaces. You don’t shine it through the skin or some crazy thing like that to kill viruses inside a person as treatment of coronavirus infectiot. I won’t even talk about disinfectants.
The fact that that man would think he even is in any way qualified to suggest avenues of treatment or research…
Then to top it all off, he says he was being sarcastic when he said those things. Explain that.
Then he tells an outright lie, saying he was answering a reporter’s question, when he was not. He was asking a question of Dr Birx.
It was train wreck.
You are ignoring that he said injecting disinfectants and bringing the light inside the body.
UV light kills/is a mutagen. Only one who should be embarrassed is the president. He has the world’s biggest microphone and should not use it to suggest “Cures”.
Could a New Ultraviolet Technology Fight the Spread of Coronavirus?
Columbia researcher David Brenner believes far-UVC light—safe for humans, but lethal for viruses—could be a ‘game changer.’
https://news.columbia.edu/ultraviolet-technology-virus-covid-19-UV-light
@Reno Exactly, there are things being tested that the peanut gallery knows nothing about. All they care about is trying to damage this president any way they can and its disgusting.
Did you read the article?
“A technique that zaps airborne viruses with a narrow-wavelength band of UV light shows promise for curtailing the person-to-person spread of COVID-19 in indoor public places.
‘The technology, developed by Columbia University’s Center for Radiological Research, uses lamps that emit continuous, low doses of a particular wavelength of ultraviolet light, known as far-UVC, which can kill viruses and bacteria without harming human skin, eyes and other tissues, as is the problem with conventional UV light.
“‘Far-UVC light has the potential to be a ‘game changer,’” said David Brenner, professor of radiation biophysics and director of the center. “It can be safely used in occupied public spaces, and it kills pathogens in the air before we can breathe them in.’”
It does not go in the body. It does not cure people with the illness. It’s a preventative measure that might help open indoor public areas.
@sanity, Reno,
In addition to what Kathleen Ruegsegger said above (That article you posted has nothing to do with what Trump was talking about, apart from the fact that Trump was very confused and could have mistaken something like that for a treatment rather than a preventative), did you not see that Trump tried to deny that he was serious. He said he was being sarcastic. Which was it? Was he serious or sarcastic?
At this point, it is hard to tell if you are serious or just trolling. No one with even an elementary understanding of science would say that Trump’s suggestions were anything but absurd. Are you seriously defending what the Trump said when Trump himself won’t defend what he said?
Just to make sure you get it, here it is again, the article says:
“Our system is a low-cost, safe solution to eradicating airborne viruses minutes after they’ve been breathed, coughed or sneezed into the air.”
“eradicating airborne viruses”
@Kathleen Ruegsegger yeah I did…did you read what I wrote? There are things being tested that you know nothing about. This is just an excuse to beat up on the president. How many time has the left claimed he was wrong about things that turned out to be true? Over and over again, so don’t give me that BS I don’t buy it. Had Obama made the same statement the media would be fawning all over him for being such a brilliant out of the box thinker. Disgusting hypocritical hacks and I’m sick of it.
Sanity, Sure there are tests I know nothing about, but it isn’t the posted example. And it is not going to be putting disinfectants inside anyone. Nor will it be putting UV light inside anyone. I am fine if you like this president; I do not and for many more reasons that this latest gaffe. I am not, however, “the left.”
@sanity,
He denied he was being serious when he said that stuff. He said he was being sarcastic, when it was completely clear that he wasn’t. I agree with you that mainstream press has been unfair to Trump at times and has thrown around accusations of lying or untruthfulness that didn’t hold up. But none of that is the case here. In this instance he really did say a bunch of absurd, ignorant things, then tried to cover them up by lying. It is all there to see and hear.
@sanity,
I’d really like to know — Do you think Trump was telling the truth when he said he was just being sarcastic, or did he really think those were potential treatments? Can’t have it both ways.
So was he serious or sarcastic?
@sanity, Reno?