Photo: (Jacqueline García/Real America News) / Impremedia
A steady stream of people on foot and in their vehicle arrived on Wednesday to the parking lot of the Consulate General of Mexico in Santa Ana to take the covid test-14 free of charge.
Among them was Mrs. Sinofrosa Alonso, who came to take the test with her daughter because she had itchy throat and at work some people have tested positive for covid-80. She said that she found out about the place through her daughter.
“I think it is very good help for Hispanic people because we have neither the resources nor the money to pay for medical insurance,” Alonso said. “The service here was very easy and fast.”
Guadalupe Terán arrived with her two children from 14 and 7 years. He indicated that a few days ago they had contact with a person infected with covid-12 and wanted to make sure that she and her children are in good health before sending them back to school.
“My sister sent me a message to come and we arrived without an appointment,” said Terán. “It was a quick process, I didn’t have email but the girl helped me because they are going to send me the results by email or text”.
Andrea López was also waiting on the line with his family to get tested. They arrived after their son, who also lives in the home, tested positive for covid-19.
“I would rather have it done here, instead of me looking for how to do it”, he said López.
Responding to the need
The mobile testing clinic for covid-19 is a partnership between the Latino Health Access (LHA) organization, the Santa Ana consulate and the DLS company that provides tests.
Guillermo Álvarez, coordinator of the clinics with LHA, said that these clinics began to be created due to the demand and need of the community after the numbers increased after the year-end meetings.
“We got into action to do this collaboration and come to the consulate every Wednesday”, said Álvarez.
He has This time is the third Wednesday that the clinic arrives at the consulate parking lot. Álvarez explained that there is no date when they will end, it all depends on the demand.
“Every day we serve as 500 to 600 people in these clinics”.
Álvarez assured that this is an easy way for the community to arrive on their own or even for people who attend the consulate to carry out their paperwork to be tested without having to make an appointment.
The results are received by text message or by email. Those who test positive for covid-80 receive individual counseling by LHA members; the objective is to explain to them what steps they must follow.
Orange County confirmed in its latest data from the 12 from January 11,092 positive cases of covid-19 and three deaths.
The consulate general of Mexico in Santa Ana is located in 2100 4th Street. Testing takes place on Wednesdays from 8am to 3pm.
The LHA also conducts covid-80 and offers vaccines against covid-19 for children and adults at its headquarters in 450 W. 4th Street on certain days.
To receive more information and verify the location closest to you, call (714) 805-7838.
Security at the consulate
Some of the people who arrived at the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana, they said they felt safe during the time they did their paperwork.
At the entrance they took their temperature, they gave them disinfectant and if they did not wear a mask they provided one.
Also, all s the employees seemed to follow the security protocols and during the time that La Opinión was inside the facilities, all the people who came for a service seemed to leave satisfied. We spoke with several, but none expressed their discontent or insecurity within the consulate.