Long Beach by the numbers:

• To date, Long Beach Health Department and their private laboratory partners have conducted more than 1,300 tests.
• As of today, 123 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
• Approximately 500 full test kits are available to address emergent needs.
• Approximately 1,000 test swabs are waiting for transport media. This will complete the COVID-19 collection kits so that people can be tested.
• The Health Department is conducting 1 drive-through testing center for at-risk populations that are on the frontlines of this pandemic. This includes healthcare workers and first responders. This is done by appointment only at the referral of healthcare providers. Based on limited resources at this time, this is not an open testing location for the general public. Approximately 25-30 tests are conducted daily at this location.

• If an individual is experiencing symptoms, they should call their medical provider.
• Their medical provider will evaluate the patient and decide if testing is warranted.
• If the provider determines a patient should be tested, they will take a swab of the patient’s nose and/or throat.
• That swab is put into a viral transport media to be sent to a laboratory for testing. The media allows microorganisms like coronaviruses, which are typically not very hardy, to survive long enough for them to be detected in the lab. The media used to transport COVID-19 is in extremely short supply nationwide and is one of the main reasons why testing capacity is limited.
• Laboratories use machines and reagents to run tests on the samples received from medical providers. Reagents are a key component to “test kits.” This is what causes an identifiable reaction in the presence of the virus. Reagents, like transport media, are in extremely limited supply across the nation as well.
• Once a lab completes a test, they send the results back to the medical provider who requested them. Positive results are required to be reported to the local public health jurisdiction, usually through electronic lab reporting.
• The medical provider then determines the necessary course of treatment and/or quarantine for that patient. The local public health jurisdiction determines whether a case investigation is warranted.

• The City of Long Beach is uniquely positioned to allow us to prioritize emergent needs in this public health crisis. We operate our own public health lab which allows us to prioritize the most critical results and provide direct services to our hospitals as they test and evaluate their most acute patients. We are fortunate to have this essential resource.
• Long Beach Health Lab currently processes an average of 30 tests per day. This is crucial in providing those that are in need with the necessary information to initiate appropriate treatment.
• Long Beach also partners with private provider networks to test and process lab results. Since the onset of COVID-19 approximately two weeks ago, 1,300 tests have been performed. Exact amounts are not known as only positive test results are required to be reported.

More tests are needed and we are awaiting tests from the federal government. In the meantime, the public is urged to obey the current health order and practice physical distancing by only leaving home for essential activities. When leaving home, keep at least six feet distance between yourself and others. While you’re home:

• practice good hygiene by washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces;
• and if you are experiencing a medical emergency, such as difficulty breathing, call 9-1-1.

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The City encourages all residents to visit www.longbeach.gov/COVID19 for up-to-date facts on COVID-19 and to avoid misinformation. You can also follow updates, tips and notices on the City’s social media pages @LongBeachCity and @LBHealthDept and by following hashtag #COVID19LongBeach.