Activate..

 

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he is activating the California National Guard to add COVID-19 testing sites and boost capacity.

More than 200 guard members are being deployed now - and likely more in the near future - to 50 OptumServe sites to help with clinical staffing and crowd control, the governor said.

The governor's move comes as it becomes more and more difficult to find test kits in many parts of California. Delays in getting results are causing increasing frustration and contributing to the surge of infections that in just two weeks more than doubled the number of people in hospitals with COVID-19.

Negative test results can be a necessity for any number of activities, from going to work to boarding an airplane or attending a sporting event. Delays in getting results - or inability to find a test kit - can mean people with very mild or no symptoms may presume they are not infected and go about their usual routines.

A day late and a dollar short.