Hours extended at Dodger Stadium for daily COVID-19 testing amid case surge

Dodger Stadium extends COVID testing hours

A spike in coronavirus cases prompted LA County to strongly recommend residents get tested.

LOS ANGELES - Daily coronavirus testing at Dodger Stadium has been expanded to 8 a.m.- 8 p.m., Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday.

Coronavirus testing expanded at Dodger Stadium

As coronavirus cases continue to surge in Southern California and nationwide, COVID-19 testing hours have been extended at Dodger Stadium. Officials say results are available in less than 24 hours.

During a COVID-19 status update, Garcetti said the capacity of LosAngeles testing sites will be increased to 32,400 tests per day and the city's other testing sites will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

"This is one of the most precarious and dangerous and fragile moments in our fight against COVID-19," Garcetti said.

"Just yesterday, the most Americans to ever get COVID-19 got it."

Rapid testing could be coming to Los Angeles soon, Garcetti said, and progress with studies continues at the University of Southern California.

"In a few weeks we'll know some of the initial results working with USC," Garcetti said.

"There are a couple of factors at play. One is how many tests we can get, and the state of California is getting millions of those tests, so we're working with them to try to see if we can distribute those in coming months."

Moments after he finished his briefing, Garcetti sent a message on Twitter saying, "We're facing a surge in COVID-19 cases. We cannot act like this virus has gone away. We cannot let our guard down. It's still here. It'sstill deadly. We might be tired, but we can't let up. Please avoid gatherings. Wear your mask. Keep your distance. Get your flu shot."

Garcetti said the Pfizer announcement that its vaccine against COVID-19 may be 90% effective is "extraordinary," but he said more research is needed and "we cannot let our guard down" as cases begin to surge.

Tuesday's COVID-19 update marks the 74th time Garcetti has addressed the city regarding the pandemic.

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