Another Wealthy Community Offers to Test All Residents

Bolinas, Calif., will test for active infections and antibodies
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 20, 2020 4:48 AM CDT
Everyone in This Community Can Be Tested for Coronavirus
Workers administer tests at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing location Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Franklin, Tenn.   (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

A small northern California community is one of the first in the world to offer coronavirus testing for everyone who lives there. Bolinas, Calif., will test any resident aged 4 or older, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. From Monday through Thursday the Marin County community, population 1,600, is offering mouth and throat swabs to test for active infections as well as finger prick blood tests to identify whether antibodies are present. Residents can take both tests, just one, or none at all; testing is being performed by UCSF staffers at a drive-through location.

The Point Reyes Light reports that the estimated $400,000 project cost has been funded entirely by donations. Bolinas, which the Mercury News refers to as "reclusive," is a wealthy community, and the Hill reports that the plan "has raised some eyebrows" since so many others around the country have no access to testing. This wealthy enclave on the East Coast has a similar offer for residents, though it's only offering antibody tests, and Business Insider notes another similar plan is in the works in a Colorado ski resort town. (An Italian town tested every single resident and stopped the outbreak in its tracks.)

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