Santa Cruz COVID-19 Testing Options Expand Amid Delta Surge

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A third lane was added to the COVID-19 testing site at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium as the delta variant fuels a surge of cases in the city.

Most new COVID-19 cases have occurred among unvaccinated residents in North County for weeks now. The county Health Services Agency announced this week that testing demand has exceeded supply in the county.

The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium site, operated by OptumServe, will now have the capacity to administer nearly 600 tests per day.

COVID-19 testing turnaround time is affected by the number of tests being administered, the county said.

"Testing volume is currently high," the county said.

The Watsonville OptumServe testing site at Ramsay Park will expand to accommodate nearly 400 tests per day. A COVID-19 testing bus will be making the rounds in the San Lorenzo Valley beginning Sept. 10 and will administer more than 80 tests daily.

Learn about additional testing sites at the county's website.

Visit the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium testing site from 7 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. weekdays at 307 Church St. Make an appointment online. Walk-ins will be accommodated as capacity allows. The site closes from 11 a.m. to noon and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.