Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Updates: 3 Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Sites, 46 New Cases
Los Angeles County public health officials and political leaders gave their daily update on the response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Here are some of the announcements made today:
- L.A. County has been piloting drive-thru specimen collection at three different sites.
The sites are open to individuals who "have a provider directive to get tested," said L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. She said the goal is to make it easer for those people to find a place in their community where they can have a specimen collected without having to get out of their car.
Support for LAist comes from
Specimens are being analyzed at county, commercial and CDC labs and generally require a couple days turnaround before results come back. Ferrer says the pilot seems to be working and that the drive-thru process should help increase the county's capacity.
- 46 new cases have been confirmed in L.A. County, bringing the total to 190. That includes the city of Long Beach and makes 96 new cases in the last 48 hours.
Locations of #COVID19 cases in LA County.
— Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) March 18, 2020
**Please do not assume that one location is safer than the other. Cases are occurring across LA County, so please stay home whenever possible and practice social distancing if you must go out.** #StaySafeStayHome pic.twitter.com/Lad5LLWQCq
- We're likely going to see an increase in cases for the next one to three months, but that doesn't mean social distancing isn't working.
- The health officer's orders to close bars, wineries and nightclubs and limit restaurants to delivery and take-out only are legally binding. Health inspectors are out checking and will cite violators.
This story will be updated.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist