A “pop-up” testing site, consisting of a container plunked down in the parking lot directly adjacent to the legit COVID testing site, was shut down by Grass Valley officials on Wednesday.
“The recent COVID testing pop-up site in Grass Valley is not a legitimate testing site, like the State testing site in the old Summer Thymes building. Residents looking for testing resources in Nevada County should visit our website at www.MyNevadaCounty.com/Coronavirus/Testing,” stated Nevada County Public Health Director Jill Blake.
After a resident contacted the city, the connex box was red-tagged immediately. No permits had been obtained and the jury-rigged electrical connection was a hazard.
On Thursday, when we took these photos, nobody was in or near the container. Readers who contacted YubaNet stated a folding table was set up in front of the container on Wednesday, with one person in a disposable gown running the tests.
In Nevada County, two state-sponsored testing sites are administered by LHI at the following locations:
Testing Locations & Hours
Western Nevada County
231 Colfax Avenue, Grass Valley, CA 95945 (inside the former Summer Thymes building, currently no drive-thru or in-car testing available)
Monday-Saturday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Eastern Nevada County
10990 Donner Pass Rd. Truckee, CA 96161 (in the Gateway building, across the street from the Tahoe Forest Health System)
Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Your doctor may offer COVID-19 testing. Call your doctor’s office for more information. Additional testing locations can be found on Nevada County’s website.
“Throughout California, fake testing sites are sprouting up to exploit families and individuals seeking COVID tests. It is important to recognize the signs of sham testing sites to protect both your money and personal information,” said California Attorney General Bonta in a recent news release. “I urge Californians to do their part to avoid fake testing sites by utilizing state resources, including the California Department of Public Health’s website, to find a verified COVID-19 testing site.”
If you believe that you have been scammed by a fake COVID-19 testing site, you are encouraged to report it to your local police or sheriff’s office and file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office online at oag.ca.gov/report.
Tips to Avoid COVID-19 Testing Site Scams from the AG’s website
Do your part to avoid fake COVID-19 testing sites by utilizing the following tips:
- Only get tested at verified COVID-19 testing sites or through medical groups: To find a testing site near you that is verified to perform COVID-19 testing, use the California Department of Public Health’s test site search tool. You may also search for local testing sites through your county’s local public health department. You can find your county’s public health department website at COVID19.CA.GOV’s Hotlines and Local Info web page. Also check with local medical groups to see if they offer testing services within their facility.
- Should you choose to use an unaffiliated testing site, be wary of the following:
- If a provider insists on documenting your nationality or immigration status;
- If a provider does not offer a notice of privacy practices, or cannot explain how it will use and share your personal data; or
- If a provider insists on accessing your passport or driver’s license when you have other documents that show your insurance status.
- Identify and avoid “lookalike” websites: Fake testing sites may require you to sign up online. Beware of fake websites that purposely look identical to those belonging to well-known, trusted organizations and state agencies. Before entering personal information into an online form, always make sure that the website you are visiting is secure and does not display misspellings or unfamiliar names in the URL.
- Be cautious of unsolicited calls regarding testing sites: A legitimate company or health clinic will not call, text, or email you without your permission. If you receive an unsolicited message from an individual, do not provide the caller or sender with any personal information until you have confirmed it is coming from a legitimate source. If you feel pressured to provide personal information, just hang up.