Surge of COVID-19 cases leaves many in search of tests, vaccines, answers

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as is the case in the rest of California, the South Lake Tahoe region has seen a significant increase in positive cases of COVID-19 over the last three weeks. Barton Health said they are experiencing high volumes of patients accessing the health system partially due to the increase in COVID cases. Currently, the majority of positive cases are among people able to recover at home, and hospitalization admissions are currently stable, although expected to increase as COVID continues to spread.

"Barton Health is not a public testing site," said Barton's Public Information Officer Mindi Befu. "Barton Urgent Care and Emergency facilities continue to prioritize patients based on medical need."

In the event of exposure or symptoms, follow these guidelines:

If you are experiencing mild symptoms of illness and it is not an emergency, please contact your primary care provider.

If you do not have a primary care provider, please visit an urgent care facility.

If you do have an emergency medical need, please visit Barton Emergency Department or call 9-1-1.

For up-to-date information on available testing sites, vaccines, and FAQ, visit BartonHealth.org/Coronavirus.

For those needing COVID testing-only (including work releases) and do not need to be evaluated by a physician for an urgent or emergent condition, COVID testing may be found at these locations:

El Dorado County Public Health via LHI: visit LHI.care/CovidTesting to make an appointment for a free PCR test; Spanish-speaking residents or those without internet access can call 888.634.1123 to make an appointment. Their testing site is currently located in the South Tahoe Recreation Center parking lot. If you are already registered in the LHI system, walk-ins are accepted.

Test Well, located at 3678 Lake Tahoe Blvd., is a CLIA-certified lab offering same-day PCR test results or next-day testing for eligible individuals: visit testwell.clinic to make an appointment.

Quick Care Urgent Care is an urgent care facility located 2074 Lake Tahoe Blvd and they offer testing as well as accept walk-ins.

Other testing sites, including pharmacies and LTUSD are available:

California residents can visit covid19.ca.gov to find other California testing locations.

Nevada residents can visit nvhealthresponse.nv.gov to find Nevada testing locations.

LTUSD students and staff can be tested through the school district. (Student Link)

Rapid/at-home antigen tests are available for purchase at local pharmacies and online (through retailers like Amazon.com). Continue to check/call pharmacies for additional inventory.

Barton (Emergency Department, Urgent Care, or medical offices) does not have rapid antigen tests available for purchase.

Vaccines:

Vaccination is still the best defense against severe illness from COVID-19. Individuals five years old and over are recommended to receive a vaccination, including a booster for people 12 years and older if they completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago (Pfizer/ Moderna) or two months ago (Johnson & Johnson).

COVID vaccines and boosters are available locally via:

Area Pharmacies - Appointments are available via local pharmacies including CVS, Safeway, Rite Aid, Smith's, Walgreens, Walmart, and Costco.

Public Health

El Dorado County offers vaccines every Wednesday at their Placerville office; call for an appointment: 530.621.6100.

Quad Counties offers community vaccination events throughout the Quad-County region: GetHealthyCarsonCity.org (or call 775.434.1988).

Additional opportunities or clinics can be searched online at Vaccines.gov or by calling 1.800.232.0233.

Indoor mask use is required in both California and Nevada, preferably an N95 or surgical mask. Most importantly, stay home and/ or keep children home, when you’re sick.