HR Support set up shop in Ripon this week.

That’s the free COVID-19 testing site available to the community and the underserved – the pop-up area can be found along Nourse Street adjacent to the Ripon Consolidated Fire District administrative office at 142 S. Stockton Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Corrine Nelson, who is one of the HR Support phlebotomists, reported strong numbers of those tested on Friday.

“We had 108 (tested) thus far,” she said, with cars beginning to back up along Nourse Street during the mid-afternoon.

Director of COVID Testing California for HR Support David Wilson believes that the recent coronavirus uptick coupled with Thanksgiving being around the corner as factors contributing to the larger numbers of those being tested.

And result of the larger numbers, those being tested are having to wait three to five business days to receive their lab results – prior to that, the waiting period was two business days.

HR Support also has free test sites in Manteca (Manteca Transit Center, 220 Moffat Blvd.) and Lathrop (Generations Center, 450 Spartan Way).

“We’ll be around (for the COVID-19 pandemic),” Wilson said. “How long? It could be another year? It could be a 1 ½ year?”

The mission of HR Support is to help medical facilities and other businesses in managing the health of employees, residents and clients while making sure they’re tested economically and efficiently in place convenient for all.

Appointments are available – go to www.hrsupportpros.com/covid-19-testing-sites-1 — however, walk-in and drive-thru services are also accepted. All that’s needed is a government ID and, if available, an insurance card.

The actual testing, Nelson said, takes about 10 seconds or so.

She and fellow phlebotomist Azucena Garcia administered the tests, using a swab to the inner rim of each nostril.

They’re able to test a maximum of 30 people during a given hour.

For more information, click on to www.hrsupportpros.com.