COVID-19 Testing Options Expand in Long Beach
The City of Long Beach is expanding testing options through a variety of means. The opening of two new sites is expected within the next week.
“Testing is critical to tracking, controlling and preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “By increasing testing capacity and accessibility, we are able to work smarter and take care of more people.”
The City is adding non-vehicle based testing at its three existing testing sites. This testing is meant to accommodate those who do not have access to a vehicle. Individuals are encouraged to schedule an appointment prior to walking up to the testing location, or visit the Rapid Assessment Clinic (RAC) for assistance.
Appointments will be provided between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily through the Health Department’s mobile testing booths at these sites:
- Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus, 1305 Pacific Coast Highway (entrance at parking lot near Orange Avenue) – The RAC is adjacent to this testing site.
- Jordan High School, 6500 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on Atlantic Avenue)
- Cabrillo High School, 2001 Santa Fe Avenue (entrance on Santa Fe Avenue at W. Willard Street)
For both non-vehicle and drive-through testing, same- or next-day testing appointments are available for all who are symptomatic. While testing is prioritized for individuals who are over 65 years of age or have underlying chronic health conditions, it is available to anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms. Interested individuals should visit the City’s COVID-19 testing page to answer several pre-screening questions and schedule an appointment.
Front line workers, including first responders, critical government personnel, health care professionals and grocery workers are eligible for testing regardless of symptoms. Personnel who are asymptomatic and believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 and desire to have the test may do so.
The Health and Human Services Department is working with Long Beach City College to open a new site at the Liberal Arts Campus with an estimated 100 tests daily. The City plans to open this site within the next week.
The City is also working with county and state officials to increase the City’s testing capacity. An additional testing site, proposed for North Long Beach, is anticipated to open in the next week. More than 100 tests will be available at this new location as well.
Details related to both new testing sites will be forthcoming.
Once the two new sites are established, the City will have the capacity to test more than 700 people per day. That would be in addition to the current capacity to test approximately 250 people per day at St. Mary Medical Center.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep its residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19
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