With one out of every 140 people infected by COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, officials are stepping up their efforts to get the word out about key resources to meet community needs during the pandemic.
“Now time is of the essence,” said LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the county’s 1st district. “It’s a wake up call for us.”
Right now, there are more than 180 testing sites across LA County. If you’re in need of a free test, visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing for site and appointment information.
“We’re talking about equity,” Solis said. “We have to find a way to bring down the curve… how to speak to our community.”
County leaders want residents to know about available programs to help them get through the pandemic. Cash assistance is available through CalWorks and food assistance is available through CalFresh, California’s food stamps program.
In this time of uncertainty, up to $204 a month per household member on an EBT card can go a long way to solving food insecurity.
“(Many) families for the first time ever are applying for CALFresh benefits,” said Antonia Jimenez, the Director of the LA County Department of Public Social Services. “We can actually approve your CalFresh application the same day.”
Application information is available at 1(866) 613-3777 or getcalfresh.org.
Meanwhile, one in every four COVID-19 positive residents will need intensive care, according to Dr. Erika Flores Uribe, a practicing emergency room doctor, who also works at LA County Department of Public Health.
Information about free testing is especially important in South LA, as a higher percentage of African-Americans and Hispanics have been testing positive and ultimately dying from the coronavirus compared to White residents.
“We want to make sure the resources… testing (options) are reaching the Latinx and Black community,” said Dr. Flores Uribe.
That’s one of the reasons LA County recently launched the “Community Equity Fund” to partner with more than 50 community-based organizations in regions and communities most impacted by COVID-19.
“We know the neighborhoods that are highly impacted by COVID-19 are most vulnerable due to historic and present-day inequities,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the Director of Public Health in Los Angeles County. “This investment recognizes the need to support new and existing community-centered interventions to combat these injustices and take action to reduce the inequities we are seeing in our communities.”
Additionally, Dr. Tasha Dixon, Lead Family Physician at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center in South LA wants residents to know “we’re open.”
Dixon explained that LA County is still providing non-covide related health services during the pandemic.
“Take care of your diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, sexually transmitted diseases,” Dr. Dixon said, before explaining the importance of keeping up with preventative screenings.
“If we do our parts now… in a year or two, we will be back to our new normal,” Dixon concluded.
The virtual panel discussion with LA County was organized by Ethic Media Services.
