Those searching for free coronavirus testing in the South County will soon have an additional weekly location in Manteca where they can find out if they’re carrying the COVID-19 virus.

And it won’t cost a cent to find out.

Last week the office of Josh Harder announced that the second-term congressman has been working with community partners to expand coronavirus testing in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.

Curative, one of the largest providers of oral COVID-19 testing in the United States, officially launched a mobile testing van on Monday in Patterson.

That van will be located in the Manteca Civic Center parking lot, 1001 W. Center Street, Wednesdays for the foreseeable future.

While there is walk-up availability, those wishing to be tested are encouraged to make an appointment at least four days before the desired testing date by visiting www.curative.com/CA10.

“We heard from communities across the Valley that we’re low on testing capacity – so we went and found some more,” Harder said in an announcement about the program. “The first step in combatting the virus is understanding where it is – this will give us a better chance to do that while giving more people opportunities to get tested.”

The testing site will be open in Manteca on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. before moving on Oakdale on Thursday, Ceres on Friday, Modesto on Saturday, and Tracy on Sunday.

Unlike early testing methods that required the insertion of a Q-Tip like instrument deep into the nasal cavity – which caused mild discomfort and scared some would-be recipients of the free service away – Curative offers a self-administered oral test that can also be administered to children.

While the site will ask for insurance information, it will still be provided free of charge to those that do not have insurance.

While both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties are currently among the areas in the state that have the lowest availability of ICU beds and thus in the state’s most restrictive tier, the previous color-coded system used a formula that encouraged widespread community testing and gave counties that provided it a break that could have prevented placement in more restrictive tier.

Initially guidance from public health officials specified that only those that are exhibiting symptoms common with the COVID-19 infection should be tested, but that since been relaxed to allow anybody who wants to be tested to go through the process.

For additional information about Curative’s process visit their website at www.curative.com. Testing is also available in Manteca Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Manteca Transit Center located at 220 Moffat Boulevard at the corner of Moffat and Main Street. For more information about that testing location, visit the San Joaquin County Public Health Services website at www.sjcphs.org and click on “testing information.” A link to register for that particular testing location is located on the website.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.