LA County Sets Goal of Performing 10,000 COVID-19 Tests a Day

Los Angeles County has set a goal to test 10,000 people a day for the Coronavirus, according to Los Angeles Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

The new testing could report in 1,000 cases of the virus reported a day.

However, even if the reported cases reach those numbers, there could still be dozens, if not hundreds, of unreported cases daily due to people with limited symptoms not being tested, and the cases undetected in the city’s homeless population.

On Wednesday, 634 cases were reported, including an additional 14 in Pasadena.

In total, Pasadena reported one fatality while Los Angeles officials reported 29 deaths in other parts of the county.

Pasadena has its own health department and reports its numbers separately.

The county has confirmed 7,574 cases of the virus.

Pasadena and LA County were expected to report updated numbers on Thursday.

There are more than 20 testing centers across the region, including the Rose Bowl, where 100 tests a day will be done on weekdays for the rest of the month, according to Acting Fire Chief Brian Frieders.

New testing centers also opened at East Los Angeles College and at the Charles Drew University medical campus in Willowbrook earlier this week.

Those centers are restricted to testing people showing symptoms of COVID-19.

“I know this is temporary. I know it’s going to change and we will get back to many of our normal routines, but it will take significant time,” Ferrer said Wednesday. “And please understand that we have weeks to go before we’re able to lift any of our health officer orders.

“…We’re going to get through this together, LA County, and I’m grateful for all that you’re doing.”

The county’s coronavirus cases include 43 cases that occurred in jail settings —  three inmates and 40 staff members.

In the state’s prison system, eight inmates and two staffers have tested positive. Two cases have been reported in a county juvenile facility.

County education officials passed a resolution Wednesday calling for the immediate release of students detained in juvenile halls and camps to protect their health and well-being in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resolution calls for the release of students now incarcerated or awaiting trial who are nonviolent offenders, have compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions, are nearing the end of their camp placement and who pose no danger to themselves or others.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Probation Department, operates fully accredited high schools that offer comprehensive educational services to young people detained in the county’s juvenile halls and camps. The programs currently serve some 600 students, most of whom are young men of color.

Twelve cases have been confirmed among the county’s homeless population, up from two on Tuesday. Four cases have been reported in homeless shelters, involving two residents and two staff members. So far at least 25 homeless people have died from the virus.