Santa Cruz County kicks off the first round of blitz testing

Santa Cruz County kicks off the first round of blitz testing

CRUZ COUNTY - (NATS OFGUARDSMEN) TO TEST MORE THAN500 RESIDENTS.

(NATS OF ATEST) LT.

PATEL// U.S.NATIONAL GUARD: "WE KNOW THATWE ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION INA HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH THECOMMUNITY, THAT'S WHY THIS ISSO MEANINGFUL FOR US."HUNDREDS OF CARDS WAITED NOMORE THAN A HALF HOUR AT THESITE FOR THEIR OPPORTUNITY TOBE TESTED.

GUARDSWOMAN:"I'M SOEXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TOGIVE PEOPLE THE TEST FORCOVID." FOR THE COUNTY IT WASA LONG TIME COMING -SUPERVISOR MOLERA: "SOMETIMESLITTLE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY GETSLOST AT THE STATE LEVEL, WEHAD PEOPLE THAT PUSHED ANDSHOVED AND WE FINALLY GOT TOORGANIZE ALL THIS." SANTA CRUZCOUNTY APPLIED FOR THE FUNDSIN JUNE AND WORKED WITH THESTATE TO RAMP UP TESTING.

APARTNERSHIP THEY ARE GRATEFULFOR.

THAT DATA WILL BEIMPORTANT FOR THE BORDERCOUNTY TO ASSESS.

CHAIRMANBRUCE BRACKER: "SO ONCE WE GOTHROUGH A COUPLE DAYS OF THISAND THEN NEXT WEEKEND WHEN WEDO RIO RICO AND PATAGONIA.WE'LL HAVE A BETTERUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOINGON IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY." ASOF NOW THE COUNTY HAS SEEN ASMALL DROP IN CASES.

JEFFTERRELL, PUBLIC HEALTH:"WE'VEACTUALLY HAD SOME TESTINGGOING DOWN AS WELL.

SO WE'REKIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.WE ARE HOPING TO GET A GOODTURN OUT AND THAT WILL DROPOUR POSITIVITY RATE DOWN."BLITZ TESTING WILL CONTINUEFOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS INSANTA CRUZ COUNTY.

REPORTINGIN NOGALES, CIARA ENCINAS KGUN9 ON YOUR SIDE.LET'S HEAD OVER TO BRIAN