The Kern County Latino COVID-19 Task Force, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Kern County Public Health are holding two free COVID-19 testing sites this week to help increase Kern County’s testing numbers.

“Access to testing is one of our top priorities,” Jay Tamsi, co-founder says. “We need to ensure that the Latino population and our entire community are being tested, self-isolating at home when needed to stop the spread of COVID-19. This is a very serious matter for Kern County’s economic state and the physical and mental health of our Latino Community.”

On Thursday, October 15, the task force will be set up at La Mina Cantina’s South West Bakersfield and on Friday, October 16, at Vallarta Supermarkets in South Bakersfield.

Each testing site will be open to the public starting at 9 a.m. and run to 6 p.m. Walk-Ins, all ages are welcomed and encouraged as there is no pre-registration requirement. The collaboration asks people to wear a mask and social distance while on site.

La Mina Cantina is located on 8020 District Boulevard and Vallarta Supermarkets is located on 1515 East Panama Lane, both in Bakersfield.