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.
WATCH: California Doubles COVID-19 Test Capacity With New High-Speed Lab
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing the latest update on the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic (you can the press conference above), including the announcement of a new $25 million lab that officials say will double the state's capacity to test for COVID-19 and speed results to patients in less than two days.
The new lab in Valencia will be able to process up to 150,000 test kits daily. It will focus on the most commonly used polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test, which isolates genetic material from a swab sample. It’s regarded as the gold standard of testing.
A new testing lab in Valencia will drop the cost of COVID-19 tests from $150 to $37 each and has the capacity to process up to 150,000 kits daily. (Jackie Fortiér/LAist)
()
Support for LAist comes from
The lab will be run by PerkinElmer, a Massachusetts-based diagnostics company that partnered with California to improve COVID-19 testing efficiency and capacity.
The unspecified contract with the company significantly drops the cost of each kit from $150 down to about $37 per test, according to a press release from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. COVID-19 tests are offered for free to Californians at sites throughout the state, but the state picks up the tab for uninsured residents.
The new facility will create 700 jobs, the governor’s office said. All hospitals will be eligible to use the lab, which will simultaneously allow for COVID-19 and flu testing.
The governor’s offices says the new lab will help handle an expected increase in tests as flu season approaches, since COVID-19 and the flu have similar symptoms.
Right now, the kits can only test for COVID-19. Pending FDA approval, the Valencia lab will also be able to process a new all-in-one test, developed by PerkinElmer. A single swab from a patient will allow technicians to test for three different variations of the flu virus, as well as COVID-19 and RSV, a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms.
LATEST CA CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
- 4,014 confirmed positive cases this week
- Positivity rate is 3% over the last 14 day period; 3.2% over the last 7 day period
After plateauing for weeks, new coronavirus cases have ticked up, especially in Southern California. Newsom’s gradual reopening system rates nine counties as too risky to reopen, including Los Angeles County.
Support for LAist comes from
California is still looking better than many other states. It has the 11th lowest positivity rate in the nation, according to a Johns Hopkins University COVID tracker.
After lessons learned during a surge of cases in July, Newsom’s administration rolled out an easy-to-understand, color-coded reopening structure that sorts counties into four tiers based on the severity of their local outbreak and restricts which businesses can be open and what rules they have to follow. But it’s come at a cost -- California has the third highest unemployment rate in the nation.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit 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