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Category: Community News
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Published on Friday, 26 June 2020 11:16
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Written by CHIN THAMMASAENGSRI
As we move into month number three of the COVID-19 “Safer-at Home” order, there is some movement which will allow us more freedom on all fronts especially business & commerce. With that said, the threat COVID-19 poses are far from over. In fact, if we fail to keep up social distancing protocols, cleanliness measures, and withdrawing from public life if illness is suspected, we could launch a whole “second wave” which could hit us even worse.Over this three-month period, testing efforts have gone from very limited which required that any person seeking a test to, at minimum, show symptoms of the illness to a “testing-for-all/no strings attached” directive. In fact, the city of Los Angeles has led the way in opening this testing up by breaking with convention and announcing that residents from all areas of L.A. County could come to our city to get the test. This drew the chagrin of the L.A. County Department of Public Health and some others, but L.A. stuck to its guns and stayed the course.For those seeking to get a test, keep in mind that PRIORITY is still given to those who report they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, “Front Line Personnel” such as doctors, nurses, firefighters, and EMTs are also given a priority as they are necessary workers in the area of emergency services. For the rest of us, all you need to do is go to the L.A. City website located at www.lacity.org. At the top of the home page, you will see button connecting you to the option “Free COVID-19 Testing for L.A. County Residents.” Press that button and you will be taken to a page named “Free COVID-19 Testing.” It is important that you MAKE AN APPOINTMENT for testing. NO ONE without an appointment will be tested. The appointment process is actually very easy and, in some cases, you may even get the test on the same day. On this same page, you can look at the numerous testing site locations and choose the one that works for you.Most of us are familiar with the testing site located at Dodger Stadium. We’ve seen the images of folks driving up in their cars, getting the mouth swab, and driving off. It’s that easy. Did you know that other centers are classified as “walk up centers?” Yes, there are locations where you can park your car, leap off the bus, or climb out of your Uber and walk into an office where you will be swabbed and released. Again, it’s that easy. To follow is a short list of locations where you can get a COVID-19 Test.Cedars Sinai Medical CenterDrive Thru8730 Alden AvenueL.A. 90059Dodger StadiumDrive Thru1101 Scott AvenueLos Angeles 90012Crenshaw Christian CenterDrive Thru7901 Vermont AvenueLos Angeles 90044Los Angeles County – Crenshaw OfficeWalk-Up3606 West Exposition BoulevardLos Angeles 90016Exposition ParkDrive Thru3986 South Hoover StreetLos Angeles 90037St. John’s Well Child & Family CenterWalk-Up4251 Crenshaw BoulevardLos Angeles 90008Sean Penn has funded a well used testing organization- CLICK HERE.Take advantage of this free testing. However, we repeat, nothing replaces preventive measures such as social distancing, cleanliness measures, and staying home if you suspect you are sick. If we follow this process, we can definitely slow the spread of this potentially deadly virus.