FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — The Fresno County Department of Health is expected to receive 84,000 COVID-19 test kits from the state.
Kits will be distributed to vulnerable populations, with a focus on people in the restaurant industry, health officials said.
Papi’s Mex Grill in northeast Fresno is one of five locations in the county that will serve as distribution points for COVID test kits. The owner expects to receive the tests on Friday, with distribution beginning as early as this weekend.
The county health department is working with the California Restaurant Association (CRA) to distribute 15,000 tests.
“It’s not open to the public,” said Raul Gutierrez Jr., president of the CRA. “It will be limited to restaurant owners and their managers or employees who are allowed to pick them up.”
Each eligible person can pick up five kits for a total of ten tests.
Gutierrez, who also owns Papi’s Mex Grill, said it’s a huge win for restaurants, just one of many industries hit by the virus.
“This affects not only the employees, but also the turnover,” he said. “I think people just come a little less for dinner.”
The county health department also plans to work with 27 community organizations that will distribute kits to vulnerable populations.
Additionally, residents of 32 zip codes can request a kit online.
It has the highest health burden and is the hardest hit by COVID,” said Joe Prado, assistant interim director.
Health leaders will announce to the public when the site is up and running.
They also want to remind those using a home testing kit to report positive results. Instructions for this are included in the kit.
The five sales locations include:
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