The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health will open a new stationary COVID-19 testing site at the University of Redlands University Hall beginning Nov. 30. The Department of Public Health is currently taking appointments for the site.

Free testing for the coronavirus will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the campus, located at 1200 E. Colton Ave. The site has capacity for up to 800 appointments a day.

The County Department of Public Health and the City of Redlands will also provide free COVID-19 testing for two days, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Redlands Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St. A similar event on Nov. 20 and 21 saw 789 individuals tested.

No symptoms are necessary for testing. Appointments are encouraged at all sites.

Testing is important as County Public Health professionals seek to identify asymptomatic carriers, meaning people who have the virus but are not showing any symptoms. This is especially important for reopening businesses and public facilities. The goal is to avoid large increases in new cases, which could threaten efforts to relax stay-at-home orders mandated by the state. That requires identifying those who are infectious but have not (and likely will never) develop symptoms.

Widespread testing will give the County a better idea of how many people are sick, and help research infection pathways for COVID-19. It also provides a more accurate understanding of what new infections look like and the extent of community spread throughout the County overall.

Finally, for our economy to recover, it is essential for people to feel safe in public. Only then will they be comfortable patronizing stores, restaurants and other recently opened businesses.

The test is quick and painless, and results are available within three to five days.

Visit https://sbcovid19.com/testing-sites/ to make an appointment. For questions about how to register, call (909) 387-3911.