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 City, County Are Piloting A Much Faster, Cheaper COVID-19 Test
About 750 firefighters are participating in the study's initial phase. (Mayor Eric Garcetti's office)
()
The city and county of L.A. are teaming up to experiment with antigen tests, a self-administered nasal swab test that is much cheaper and faster than the test officials have been using.
The tests L.A. has been using utilize a technique called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and are almost 100% accurate. Antigen tests aren’t as sensitive as the PCR versions, but they don’t require a lab or specialized health personnel and can produce results in 15 minutes.
“They’re more user friendly, and they produce much faster results,” said L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“That will help us break the chain of transmission very quickly,” he said. “This could be the game changer we’ve been waiting for, but we have to assess that.”
Support for LAist comes from
So far some 750 firefighters are participating in the pilot. They’ll self-administer the antigen tests, whose results will be double checked by both a PCR test and an antibody test.
If the antigen tests catch asymptomatic firefighters, they’ll be offered at a couple of drive-through city COVID-19 testing sites.
The second phase of the pilot will try to determine if the antigen test can be used on school-age kids.
Researchers working on the study say antigen tests could help keep the pandemic at bay because they can be rolled out in vast numbers and hopefully can spot those at greatest risk of spreading the disease.
L.A. County remains in the most restrictive reopening tier due to ongoing widespread transmission. On Monday, the county hit two more grim milestones, with health officials reporting a total of 7,000 recorded deaths and more than 300,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
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
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist