Flying out of SLO? Airport reopens COVID testing clinic in time for holiday season [The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)]

Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Nov. 23—Flying out of San Luis Obispo?

The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport has reopened its onsite regional coronavirus testing facility to locals and travelers.

Patients can choose between a variety of tests, including rapid tests and molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, at the drive-through facility, according to an airport news release.

Patients can walk or bike up to the site as well, according to the COVID Clinic website.

Walk-in appointments are available but scheduling an appointment in advance is recommended, the airport said.

Molecular PCR tests should not be used by travelers to test their coronavirus status, according to guidelines on the COVID Clinic website.

"We are glad to once again offer the San Luis Obispo region and its visitors convenient access to reliable COVID-19 testing," Courtney Johnson, San Luis Obispo County director of airports, said in the release. "The drive-through process is efficient and safe, and we hope that residents and travelers alike will take advantage of the COVID Clinic facility."

The COVID Clinic facility at the San Luis Obispo airport is one of many operating at airports throughout California, according to the release.

According to its website, the airport's COVID Clinic "provides a no-cost-to-patient diagnostic COVID-19 PCR test for eligible insured, uninsured and undocumented patients."

"When patients pay out-of-pocket for testing, they may be able to receive reimbursement from their health insurance provider for all or a portion of their COVID-19 test," the site says.

The airport's COVID Clinic is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 975 Airport Drive in San Luis Obispo.

Unlike county-run clinics, which will be closed for Thanksgiving, the airport clinic will be open on Thursday, according to the COVID Clinic website.

On Dec. 6, clinic hours will expand to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, according to the release.

Appointments can be scheduled at www.sloairport.com/testing.

Where to get a free COVID-19 test and vaccine in San Luis Obispo County

Free coronavirus testing is available at clinics in Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. To make an appointment, visit emergencySLO.org/testing or call 888-634-1123 to register by phone.

To make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255. The county Public Health Department is also administering vaccines and boosters on a walk-in basis at clinics in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Grover Beach. To find shots at pharmacies near you, visit Vaccines.gov.

The clinics are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. They're also open Saturdays for vaccines only from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The clinics are closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The San Luis Obispo clinic is located at 2191 Johnson Ave., the Grover Beach clinic is located at 286 South 16th St. and the Paso Robles clinic is located at 800 Pine St.

For more information, visit RecoverSLO.org/en/when-and-where-can-you-get-vaccinated.aspx.

___

Visit The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) at www.sanluisobispo.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.