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Dr. Christina Ghaly On Why LA Is Shifting Its COVID-19 Testing Strategy
Los Angeles County is opening new coronavirus testing sites in Montebello, South Gate, Azusa, Panorama City, Compton and Downey/Norwalk, and expanding capacity at existing sites in Bellflower, Pomona, El Monte and East Los Angeles, according to public health authorities.
Why? Because it's become increasingly clear that Black and Latino/Latina Angelenos and those living in the poorest parts of the county are getting infected with the virus and dying at much higher rates than others.
"Certainly anyone can sign up for a test at any of the city- or county-run sites, but I would ask that people respect the data that lies behind the selection of these sites as hotspot areas," Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of Health Services, said of the new and expanded testing sites.
"These communities are in need. They are suffering disproportionately from COVID-19. They have higher case rates, higher death rates, and we want these testing sites to be a resource for the people that live there or for people in the surrounding neighboring communities who are also disproportionately affected by COVID."
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