Health & Fitness
Santa Monica Opens Coronavirus Testing Site
Santa Monica city officials announced that a new COVID-19 testing location is available for residents by appointment.
SANTA MONICA, CA —Santa Monica residents can now make appointments for coronavirus testing at a new, walk-up location in Santa Monica. Testing is free and available by appointment only at Santa Monica College's Airport Arts Campus.
"There’s demand for testing across the county and Santa Monica is no different," city spokesperson Constance Farrell told Patch. "Expanded access to testing is part of our road to recovery. This is a promising step."
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the state of California and OptumServe, is providing the testing location at the Santa Monica College Airport Arts Campus, 2800 Airport Avenue, city officials said.
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About 60 people were tested at the soft opening Thursday, Farrell told Patch.
The city expects to test about 150 people at that location daily, Farrell told Patch.
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Health officials are urging people in Los Angeles County to sign up for testing as the state begins to reopen some businesses, golf courses and trails this weekend.
“As the county begins a slow and measured process of reopening businesses and other establishments, testing will be a critical component for measuring the results, so I am very glad that this new site has opened at Santa Monica College so that people can conveniently monitor whether they have the virus, and be better able to protect their own health and the health of those they love,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl in a news release.
“Access to testing is an indicator in the safe re-opening of our economy and civic life,” said Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg in a news release. “We appreciate the Governor and Los Angeles County’s ongoing efforts to take bold and aggressive steps to protect the public health. We encourage Santa Monicans to take advantage of this new resource close to home.”
Santa Monica College is working with the community to help provide coronavirus testing during this time, said Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery in a news release.
“Although I had no symptoms, I decided to register for the test to see firsthand how everything would work,” Jeffery said. “Registering online was easy, the test site was not crowded and the staff and nurses doing the intake and testing were professional and very kind. I was in and out in about 15 minutes from my appointment time to the finish of the test, which took only a few seconds.”
The following factors DO NOT affect eligibility for testing:
- immigration status
- insurance status
- age or underlying health issues
The testing is administered and managed by the private lab OptumServe, city officials said. Appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.
Testing is open five days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., by appointment only. No drop-in appointments will be taken at the testing location. Appointments are available for the following day only. You can sign up at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
Test results may take up to two to three days. People with positive test results will be notified by a phone call. Negative test results will be accessed by logging into a secure website.
Learn more about how to schedule a COVID-19 test in Santa Monica. See the full list of L.A. County testing locations and frequently asked questions.
L.A. County residents without digital access can call (888) 634-1123, where operators can assist with registration and schedule an appointment. The testing site at SMC’s Airport Arts Campus can also accommodate pedestrians with appointments, and parking is available for those who arrive in a car.
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