County officials order crackdown on fraudulent COVID testing sites
LOS Angeles County reported 18,822 new positive cases and 36 new deaths across the county, including declines in daily case rate, positivity rate, and hospitalizations, as of Tuesday, Jan. 25.
However, county officials continue to remind residents across the county that these signs should not be an excuse to “forgo common sense protective measures that will allow these declines to continue,” the LA County Dept. of Public Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, the county reported nearly 35,000 new cases, meaning that from then to now, new positive cases have dropped 46%. Over the same period, the daily case rate per 100,000 residents also decreased by 20%, and the daily positivity rate decreased by 30%.
Hospitalizations began to dip this week, as well. On Jan. 20, hospitalizations across the county peaked at 4,814 to 4,554 in five days. However, the death rate of coronavirus patients continues to increase since the onset of the omicron variant.
“Over the past two weeks, deaths have increased by 140% from 15 deaths reported on January 11th to 36 deaths reported today. Sadly, the number of people dying is expected to continue to increase for the next several weeks,” the county reported.
The county may also be cracking down on fraudulent COVID-19 testing sites after LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn urged the LA County Dept. of Consumer and Business Affairs to monitor pop-up testing sites.
Hahn’s letter to the department said that six testing sites in South Gate and Bell Gardens were shut down for shady practices; Hahn said that these pop-up sites would charge people for tests and not send results and/or ask for sensitive information (like Social Security numbers).
To report a potentially fake COVID-19 testing site or a fake testing kit, consumers may call 800-593-8222 or file a complaint to the Dept. of Consumer and Business Affairs.
“It is despicable that people are taking advantage of communities during a deadly pandemic,” Hahn said in a statement. “I am directing the county’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to monitor pop-up testing sites across the county and shut down any sites that are defrauding the public. Testing is one of our most important tools during this pandemic and residents need assurance that they will get accurate test results and their information will be protected.”
Hahn said that residents ought to consult the county’s COVID-19 website to find legitimate testing sites sponsored by LA County.
