Norwalk opens drive-up COVID-19 testing site

Jordan Kreltz hands a patient her nose swab to test for COVID-19 at the Norwalk/ Santa Fe Springs Metrolink Station testing site. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK – A mega COVID-19 testing site opened at the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink Station on Monday, after Norwalk partnered with the American Safety Group (ASG) to create the free PCR testing site.

Appointments are not needed, but pre-registration is recommended.

Project manager Jacob Perez observed other testing sites and helped organize a system to ensure people could get tested and leave within minutes.

“What we implemented here is the process of getting registered within five minutes, then tested in three minutes. So the whole process should take eight to 10 minutes,” said Perez.

“It’s all about knowing each step of the process.”

Executive director of operations, Zack Barrington, emphasized that half of the testing site employees are military veterans. Still, the center also employs local non-veterans.

Other testing sites, such as Kaiser’s Downey Medical Center, have testing lines that extend down the block with patients waiting for hours in their vehicles. Then, after receiving the test, they have to wait multiple days to find their results.

ASG president Alfredo Valdez explained that they reached out to multiple local laboratories to yield faster results.

“With some of these sites in LA County, people are waiting five to seven days to get their results, but by then they are already over it or can tell they have it,” said Valdez. “We are bringing in other laboratories to get our test results in 24 - 48 hours.”

The testing site only administers PCR tests, which are more reliable than rapid antigen tests.

“As the virus mutates, we are finding more breakthrough cases. So testing is still necessary even though most people are vaccinated,” said the ASG president.

Valdez continued to encourage people to get vaccinated to have more resistance against the virus.

According to the LA County public health department, approximately 69.1% of eligible Norwalk residents are fully vaccinated.

“My City Council colleagues and I are being briefed daily about the surge in COVID-19 positive cases in LA County. We decided to be proactive in making a testing site available for our residents and our neighboring communities,” said Norwalk Mayor Rick Ramirez. “Once the site is fully operational, it will be able to accommodate over 1,000 people every day. The public can get tested as quickly as possible to avoid potentially spreading the virus if they are positive.”

Perez also says there are plans to set up a vaccination station at the site.

The testing center is open every day from 7 am - 7 pm. The site will close on Jan. 31 but can be extended if the city deems it necessary.