SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — On Saturday, a limited drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will be offered in southeast San Diego, a community long considered to be underserved.
The site will be set up at the Euclid Health Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. County officials say thirty spots are currently available on an appointment only basis.
People who need to be tested, but do not have a healthcare provider can call 211 for a referral.
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"We hope that we can continue to have testing in southeast San Diego," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.
Wooten explained that it is still unclear if more testing will be available at this specific location or elsewhere in the southeast.
"We're seeing community and government come together and that's a good thing," said Reverend Dr. Gerald Brown, who is the executive director of the Citizens Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations for the City of San Diego.
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"We are blessed in San Diego County because we do have medical professionals that are working every hand to make sure that every life matters."
Still, Brown said more outreach needs to be done in underserved communities to get to the core issues, and working on trust is key.
"We need as many people to overcome their fears and go out and go out and get tested," he explained. "We need as many tests as possible."
Thursday Dr. Wooten broke down the county's COVID-19 by race or ethnicity:
- White: 51.3%
- Hispanic or Latino: 35.3%
- Black or African American: 3.4%
- Asian: 7.6%
- Pacific Islander: 0.8%
- American Indian: 0.8%
- Multiple Race: 0.8%
Five deaths were of unknown race/ethnicity. Across the country Black and Latino communities have been hit the hardest during this pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Controlhealth differences between racial and ethnic groups are typically because of economic and social conditions common among minorities.
Some of the factors include underlying health conditions, lower access to care, and work circumstances.
The CDC states that, "these conditions can also isolate people from the resources they need to prepare for and respond to outbreaks."
"We are disproportionately at risk," said Brown. "I know of five folks personally that have passed on from this virus."
Brown said he is thankful the southeastern community is getting the testing it deserves and hopes the county's response to under-served communities will continue beyond this pandemic.
"We're glad to see these things happen, but we want them to be sustained," he said.
