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Center will have capacity to test 6,000 Angelenos each day, dramatically increasing size of Stadium’s previous testing site

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti opened a new COVID-19 testing site at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday that has the capacity to test 6,000 Angelenos a day free of charge, thus making it three times larger than any other location in L.A. County.

“Dodger Stadium is a place where Angelenos usually rally around a common goal of victories on the field, and today, it is uniting us around a mission to save lives,” said Garcetti. “We will continue to grow our testing capacity, so we have the data and tools to get ahead of outbreaks, stop the spread of this virus, and inform our next steps toward getting businesses back online, workers back on the job, and people back to their lives.”

The new site will be the 36th across the county. To announce this significant milestone, Mayor Garcetti was joined by critical partners who helped make this step possible:

• The Los Angeles Dodgers, who contributed the space in their stadium parking lot
• Community Organized Response Effort (CORE), which is dedicating 60 staff to help operate the site
• The Los Angeles Fire Department, which will oversee testing site logistics

“The Dodgers have and always will be a resource for the community, and we’re proud to partner with Mayor Garcetti, LAFD, and CORE on this important initiative,” said Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten. “Dodger Stadium has hosted its share of memorable and historic events, but this could be one of the most significant, as it will help re-open Los Angeles and ultimately save lives.”

The Dodgers have supported the City and County of Los Angeles’ COVID-19 response by hosting a testing site that tested nearly 40,000 individuals over a 10-week period and serving as a staging area for LAPD and LAFD. Additionally, the Dodgers and the Dodgers Foundation launched joint relief efforts in early April and have worked with team partners to provide more than 113,000 meals to the most vulnerable Angelenos, with more than $150,000 in food, water, hygiene necessities, gift cards and Dodger products donated to community organizations. The team has also provided grants to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, My Friend’s Place, the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, and Brotherhood Crusade, with additional grants to be provided to organizations that address homelessness, basic needs and food insecurity. Fans can learn more and those who donate and can join the Dodgers’ relief efforts by visiting Dodgers.com/Relief.

“Mayor Garcetti and the LAFD were pioneers in testing in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and have set an example for large-scale free testing, allowing for us to safely reopen,” said CORE Co-Founder and CEO Ann Lee. “We are grateful and proud of the Dodgers and long-standing partners of CORE, such as Live Nation, who are coming together at this super site to serve even more Angelenos in this fight against COVID-19,”

Mayor Garcetti’s office kicked off the city’s free public COVID-19 testing on March 20, and just 40 days after that step, Los Angeles had become the first major city in America to offer wide-scale testing to all residents – with or without symptoms. Together with County leaders, the City developed a centralized registration platform, giving any county resident the ability to make an appointment at a nearby testing center. Right now, these sites are testing an average of 15,000 people per day. To date, about 450,000 people have been tested.

To sign up for a testing appointment, visit coronavirus.lacity.org/testing.

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About the Dodgers:

The Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, with six World Series championships and 23 National League pennants since its beginnings in Brooklyn in 1890, is committed to a tradition of pride and excellence.  The Dodgers are dedicated to supporting a culture of winning baseball, providing a first-class, fan-friendly experience at Dodger Stadium, and building a strong partnership with the community. With the highest cumulative fan attendance in Major League Baseball history and a record of breaking barriers, the Dodgers are one of the most cherished sports franchises in the world. Visit the Dodgers online at www.dodgers.com, follow them on Twitter @Dodgers, and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Dodgers.

About CORE:

CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and strengthening communities affected by or vulnerable to crisis. Within hours of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, founder Sean Penn mobilized a powerful network to take immediate action. More than 10 years later, CORE continues to lead sustainable programs focused on four pillars: emergency relief, disaster preparedness, environmental resiliency and community building. The organization has expanded beyond Haiti to support communities in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the United States. CORE has taken a leadership position in the COVID-19 response by providing free testing for high-risk individuals and vulnerable communities. More information: www.coreresponse.org/COVID19 and follow CORE on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

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(Article courtesy of LA Dodgers)

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