LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Due to safety concerns from the unhealthy air quality throughout the region, Los Angeles County is closing six of its COVID- 19 testing sites today and Friday.
The sites that are closed are:
-- College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita;
-- East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park;
-- Pomona Fairplex Gate 17;
-- San Gabriel Valley Airport in El Monte;
-- Montebello Civic Center; and
-- Panorama City.
The county's COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center said all residents who had a testing appointment at an affected site will be notified via email to reschedule their appointment.
For residents who did not provide an email, a notification will be made via phone call. Same-day appointments are still available at testing sites that are open across county.
Residents who would like to make an appointment or reschedule their appointment at a location not affected by poor air quality can go to covid19.lacounty.gov/testing or call 211.
Residents who have a regular source of care should first seek testing from their health care provider if they are symptomatic or have a known positive exposure, the EOC stated. People without a regular provider can call 211.
Smoke from the two major local wildfires -- the El Dorado Fire burning in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Bobcat Fire burning north of Azusa and Glendora in the Angeles National Forest -- is producing substantial amounts of wildfire smoke, which can be harmful to people's health, the EOC stated.
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, as of 1 p.m. Thursday, the entire city of Los Angeles was experiencing smoke pollution levels that were considered “moderately unhealthy,” but many areas' levels were very near what would be considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
In El Monte, where the county has closed one of its COVID-19 testing sites Thursday and Friday, the air quality was considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Symptoms from wildfire smoke include burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches and illnesses like bronchitis, the EOC stated. People with sensitive conditions may experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue and chest pain.
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