Port Of Long Beach Expands COVID-19 Test Center Operation For Workers

A COVID-19 testing site for workers at the Port of Long Beach is expanding its operation to include more weekday evening hours and add a Saturday shift thanks to financial support from the Pacific Maritime Association.

The Harbor District location created in August by the Port of Long Beach has seen rising demand for tests amid the recent surge in cases of COVID-19.

The PMA’s partnership allows the site to stay open for two additional hours each evening and to open on Saturdays. Effective Saturday, Jan. 16, the tests will be available to Port personnel and the general public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 2 to 7 p.m. at 2100 W. Anaheim St., at the southwest corner of Anaheim and Ninth streets. The site will only offer tests from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Image Credits: polb.com

The Port established the drive-up testing site in partnership with the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department primarily for dockworkers, truckers and other Port workers to help ensure a healthy workforce and the safe delivery of essential goods during the pandemic.

The Port’s test site in recent months has been providing more than 1,000 tests a week. The expanded testing site hours will help accommodate the growing demand for COVID tests among vital frontline port workers.

Testing is overseen by the Long Beach Health Department, with funding from the Port of Long Beach and Pacific Maritime Association.

“The essential waterfront workers of the Port complex are giving their all to keep the Port open and the supply chain moving in this pandemic,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “I heartily commend the Pacific Maritime Association for stepping up to partner with the Port to directly expand the operating hours of our COVID-19 testing site to help protect the health of the workforce.”

“The number of people seeking tests at our site has climbed rapidly in recent months, so we are pleased to be able to keep the site open for more hours,” said Board of Harbor Commissioners President Frank Colonna. “PMA’s participation is a great help to the Port community and the supply chain.”

Reference: polb.com

Source: Maritime Shipping News