New Coronavirus Testing Sites to Open Next Week in L.A. County

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles County officials today announced more COVID-19 testing sites on the way next week in Whittier, Bell, Montebello, and MacArthur Park.

On Monday, a new drive-up testing site will open at PIH Health Whittier Hospital at 12401 Washington Blvd., according to County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

“Expanding our testing capacity and ensuring residents have easy access to testing is helping us understand the spread of this virus and will be critical to easing restrictions when that time comes,” Hahn said Saturday. “If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you can make an appointment online for this new site in Whittier or at any of the dozens of testing sites established across LA County.”

The site is by appointment only, and limited to those experiencing symptoms. Those who make appointments will stay in their cars for tests. The test is a self-administered oral swab, meaning clients must swab their own mouths/throats by following the instructions provided to them on-site. The testing process will take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis said Saturday that new testing sites would be opening next week in Bell, Montebello, and MacArthur Park.

Carson's mayor and City Council have demanded that the county establish one in that city, claiming it has one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 in the area.

County Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer has noted that while testing has been expanding, it was still more readily available in more affluent communities. Efforts have been ramping up to ensure residents of lower-income areas have access to the tests.

“Many of our hardest working families are either uninsured or underinsured and don't normally seek access to health care, which is why increasing access to COVID-19 mobile testing sites remains one of my top priorities,” County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement announcing the opening of a site in El Monte last week. “We are in this public health crisis together. This virus does not discriminate; it has the potential to impact all communities.”

The county on Friday also announced the availability of free same-day testing for people who have symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and difficulty breathing. To schedule an appointment, visit lacovidprod.service- now.com/rrs.

As of Saturday, testing was available at the following sites (clients must give their registration number, generated by the screening website http://coronavirus.lacity.org/testing):

-- Antelope Valley Mall, 1233 Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale

-- Pomona Fairplex, Gate 17, W. McKinley/Fairplex Drive

-- South Bay Galleria, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach

-- Carbon Health (Walk-Up Only), Echo Park, 2110 Sunset Blvd., Suite M, Los Angeles

-- Crenshaw Christian Center, 7901 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

-- Glendale Memorial Hospital, 222 W. Eulalia St.

-- Hansen Dam Recreational Center (entrance on Osborne St., 11798 Foothill Blvd.), Lake View Terrace

-- High Desert Medical Group, 43839 15th St. W., Lancaster

-- Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, 1700 Stadium Way, Los Angeles

-- VA Parking Lot 15 at corner of Constitution and Davis, 100 Constitution Ave., Los Angeles

-- Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18460 Roscoe Blvd. (enter on Reseda Blvd.)

-- Lincoln Park (3501 Valley Blvd., Los Angeles

-- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group, 972 Goodrich Blvd., Commerce

-- AltaMed Medical Group, 6336 Passons Blvd., Pico Rivera

-- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group, 8627 Atlantic Ave., South Gate

-- Long Beach City College, 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway

-- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group, 1300 S. Sunset Ave., West Covina

-- Charles R. Drew Campus, 1731 E 120th St., Los Angeles

-- Santa Clarita Testing Site, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road

-- Pasadena Testing Site, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive

-- East LA College, 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park

-- Avors Medical Group, 42135 10th St W ste 101, Lancaster

-- Warner Center, 6097 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills

-- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8730 Alden Drive, Los Angeles

-- Kedren Community Health Center - Walk Up Only, 4211 Avalon, Los Angeles

-- Altamed Medical Group, 2040 Camfield Ave., Los Angeles

-- Bellflower Civic Center, 16600 Civic Center Drive

-- The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd., Inglewood

-- San Gabriel Valley Airport, 4233 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte

-- Boyle Heights, 1724 Pennsylvania Ave.

Photos: Getty Images