LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles County will open three new COVID-19 testing sites today to expand access to “high-need areas'' including Montebello, South Gate and Panorama City.
The sites will begin to offer appointments Monday at South Gate Park, 4900 Southern Ave.; Tuesday at Montebello Civic Center, 1600 W. Beverly Blvd.; and Wednesday at 14665 Roscoe Blvd. in Panorama City.
By the end of the week, these additional sites will have the capacity to test almost 2,000 residents a day, five days a week, according to the county's Emergency Operations Center.
The city of Los Angeles is also continuing to deploy mobile testing units to communities with a high need for testing. Last week, the teams offered testing to residents in the Nickerson Gardens housing development and in Boyle Heights.
“Our communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due to decades of systemic inequities and this is unacceptable,'' Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said. “While a County testing site may ask for insurance information in order to recover costs, no one will be turned away for being uninsured.''
The city of Los Angeles recently opened a testing site at the Veterans Affairs' Parking Lot 15 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
“Testing helps us track this virus, stop its spread and saves lives, so it's imperative that Los Angeles continue delivering more tests than ever and deploying mobile testing to hard-hit communities,'' Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
The city and county's COVID-19 testing sites have a combined capacity to test more than 140,000 people a day, according to a joint statement. People can visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ or coronavirus.lacity.org/testing for the full list of sites and the most up-to-date information on availability.
Testing is prioritized for people who have symptoms, are at high risk of contracting the virus and essential workers, but any Los Angeles County resident can make an appointment for a test.
COVID-19 testing is also offered at select CVS, Rite-Aid, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services-operated health centers.
Photo: Getty Images