Four new COVID-19 testing sites open in LA County
LOS ANGELES - Four new COVID-19 testing sites opened in LA County Friday, in Pomona, Palmdale, Culver City and Redondo Beach. They are by appointment only and right now, tests are reserved for those 65 and older and people with underlying health conditions, like diabetes or heart or lung disease.
Cynthia Reyes
Cynthia Reyes, 44, made an appointment to get tested because she fights asthma and last weekend, along with other COVID-19 symptoms, suddenly wasn’t able to breathe.
"It rapidly switched from being able to breathe and then less than an hour later, I wasn’t able to breathe," says Reyes through FaceTime. "I realized right there and then if my husband takes me to the ER with all of this going on, how soon will I get the medical attention I need, because I can’t breathe?"
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Reyes took asthma medicine for the next few days and immediately booked an appointment at South Bay Galleria in Redondo. But she left the testing site worried, not just because she may have COVID-19.
"When I reached the tables, they told me someone had already gone through with my name and my confirmation."
LA County helped the company, Beach Cities Health District get additional tests and run the site. Testing staff says it’s the first time this has happened and they gave her a new confirmation number to verify her results in a few days. Reyes also took a picture of the barcode on the testing kit she used to confirm the results she gets back, match the test she took.
The COVID-19 test at the Redondo Beach site is simple. Pull up during your appointment time and when you get to the front, roll down your window to grab a test kit, each with its own barcode. Cough a few times then swab your cheeks. Seal it and drop off the kit in a designated bin on your drive out.
Beach Cities Health District usually offers health and wellness services to the beach community. “We’ve transformed all of our 40 programs in the last three weeks to where we’re focused 100% on COVID-19,” says CEO Tom Bakaly. “So, all of our resources, all of our staff is focused on stopping the spread of this virus.”
In addition to testing, Beach Cities Health District staff is providing services for older adults, like meal and medication deliveries and other errands. You can call Beach Cities Health District or go to its Website, www.bchd.org to use those services.
To register for a COVID-19 test appointment, visit LA city's coronavirus site.
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