Antibody Testing, New Small Business Recovery Program, & Surge Hospital Opens
The County of Los Angeles is regularly updating resources on COVID-19 and offers today’s update in an effort to keep you and yours informed. Please share the following up-to-date information:
COVID-19 Antibody Testing
Last week, LA County and the USC Price School of Public Policy conducted a COVID-19 antibody study, in order to better understand and track the spread of COVID-19 in LA County. The following offers some insight as to what it is, and where and how it was conducted:
What is antibody testing?
Antibody testing for COVID-19 includes the use of a serologic test. This test measures a person’s antibodies to COVID-19, and shows us the body’s immune system response to the infection. As a result, the serologic test helps us detect both current and past COVID-19 infections.
Why is it important?
Antibody testing help us better understand the spread of COVID-19 in LA County, and the risk of hospitalization or death among COVID-19 patients. It will also help us plan for future hospital bed and/or ventilator needs.
How were participants selected? Where were tests conducted?
A random sample of 1,000 LA County adults living within 10 miles of testing sites were contacted for participation. They were selected to create a representative sample of LA County’s adult population. Tests were conducted on April 10-11 across six testing sites in the county.
Still curious about anti-body testing? Watch the video (link opens in new window).
New Small Business Recovery Loan Program
For info on the Small Business Recovery Loan Program click here (link open in new window).
In response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on small businesses, LA County has created the Small Business Recovery Loan Program. This program aims to provide small businesses with easy-to-access financial relief in order to stay afloat and hold onto employees.
Any for-profit business with 25 or fewer employees, located within unincorporated Los Angeles County or a city participating in the County’s Community Development Block Grant Program, is eligible for this program. Loan proceeds may be used for working capital, including payroll or rent.
To learn more about this program or apply, visit bizrecoveryloans.lacda.org (link opens in new window).
You may also e-mail questions to BizRecovery@lacda.org (link opens in new window). Additional resources for small businesses can be found at: https://dcba.lacounty.gov (link opens in new window).
LA County’s Surge Hospital Opens
Los Angeles Surge Hospital (LASH), formerly known as St. Vincent’s Medical Center, is now open. If you haven’t already seen how LA County is preparing to treat COVID-19 patients, watch this video (link opens in new window).
Incident Report
Our daily report is a high level summary of L.A. County Emergency Operations Center’s COVID-19 disaster efforts. Click here (link opens in new window) to view.
COVID-19 Digital Communications Guide
View our updated COVID-19 Digital Communications Guide, and get tips on Best Practices, Do’s and Don’ts, Key Messaging, and our Social Media Toolkit – with multi-lingual graphics and messages like the ones seen below.
Access our Social Media Toolkit, here (link opens in new window).
Want to help #StopTheSpread of #COVID19? Donate, give blood, and build hygiene kits for those experiencing homelessness. Learn more about all the ways LA County needs your help at covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19/how-you-can-help/
Korean: #COVID19의 #StopTheSpread (확산 방지)에 도움이 되고 싶으십니까? 기부, 헌혈 그리고 노숙자들을 위한 위생 키트를 만드십시오. LA 카운티가 당신에게 필요한 모든 도움을 covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19/how-you-can-help/에서 더 자세히 알아보십시오.
Spanish: ¿Quieres ayudar a #DetenerLaPropagacion de #COVID19? Done, done sangre y construya kits de higiene para personas que estan experimentando indigencia. Obtenga más información sobre todas las formas en que el Condado de LA necesita su ayuda en covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19/how-you-can-help/
Additional Resources
The County of Los Angeles appreciates your continued partnership in responding to COVID-19 questions and needs of residents. For additional information, please visit:
- County of Los Angeles: covid19.lacounty.gov
- County of Los Angeles Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov
- California Department of Public Health: cdph.ca.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov
- Los Angeles County residents can also call 2-1-1