COVID-19 Testing to Continue at Rose Bowl this Week

Testing for the Coronavirus continues at the Rose Bowl this week as L.A. County health officials prepare to open a handful of new COVID-19 testing sites coming to the County this week. Officials continue to ramp up efforts to make sure residents of lower-income areas have access to the tests.

New sites are scheduled to open Monday in Bell at 6480 Atlantic Ave., in Montebello at 309 W. Beverly Blvd. and at the Good Samaritan Hospital in downtown Los Angeles,1225 Wilshire Blvd.

Also a new drive-up testing site will open at PIH Health Whittier Hospital at 12401 Washington Blvd., on Monday 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 L.A. County.”

The sites are by appointment only, and limited to those experiencing symptoms. Those who make appointments will be required to 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 takes between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

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. City officials have scheduled a virtual news conference for 10 a.m. Monday, where they are expected to announce details of a new Carson testing center opening this week.

Members of the public can schedule an appointment a coronavirus.lacity.org/testing.

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.