Pasadena Organization to Provide Free COVID-19 Testing

A Pasadena-based nonprofit dedicated to children’s health is hosting free COVID-19 testing clinics on Mondays and Tuesdays through the end of October, the group announced Thursday.

Walk-up testing will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at the Altadena Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2609 Lincoln Ave. in Altadena, according to Young & Healthy., which is putting together the events with help from a cohort of community organizations and volunteers, including funding from the Southern California Children’s Museum.

“The more testing we do, the more data we will have about how the pandemic is affecting our neighborhoods,” the organization said in a written statement. “We hope that the testing will eventually be a factor in opening our schools.”

The tests will be of the mouth swab variety and will be free and no insurance is required, although patients may be asked to provide an insurance car, if they have one, according to Young & Healthy.

Test results are generally returned within 24 to 48 hours.

“It’s a very quick process,” Young & Healthy Executive Director Mary Donnelly-Crocker said.

Depending on turnout, Young & Healthy may schedule additional testing clinics down the road, she said.

“These first couple of weeks are sort of the test to make sure there’s enough of a need to keep bringing it back,” she said. “And if there’s enough of a need, then we’ll raise more money and bring it back.”

While it’s important for those who think they may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus to get tests, “We really are trying to get some information about the positivity rate in the greater community,” according to Donnell-Crocker. “So even if you don’t have symptoms… you can still get tested.”

“Because looking at our positivity rate in the community is going to be one of the factors that’s going to help county and city public health departments determine what things can open up when,” she added. “Of course we’re most concerned about schools, so we want to do everything we can to help schools reopen. And if this bit of information is helpful, then we’re really happy to provide it.”

For more information, Young & Healthy can be reached at (626) 795-5166. The organizations website can be found at yhpasadena.org.