Los Angeles County is expanding its free COVID-19 testing sites to include a location in the city of West Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County COVID-19 West Hollywood testing site will be open each week from Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Plummer Park, which is located at 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. The testing site is adjacent to the Community Center in the south parking lot. Tests are being administered by Fulgent Genetics. Although walk-ins are welcome, it is strongly encouraged that those interested in getting a test pre-register for an appointment at la.fulgentgenetics.com; people getting tests should bring ID and confirmation number to the appointment.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has developed a detailed website area with information about testing, including a three-minute FDA video, at publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidtests. L.A. County Public Health also offers guidance about what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 at publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidtests/#what-to-do-next.

In addition to testing, getting vaccinated when eligible will help stem the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. Los Angeles County continues to urge patience as it works to expand capacity and supply of vaccines, which is currently limited. The vaccine will be offered to different groups of people at different times. When enough vaccines are available, it will be offered to the general population. People coming to be vaccinated will be asked to verify they are in an eligible group.

Residents in all eligible groups may visit vaccinatelacounty.com to schedule appointments. Residents who do not have computer access may call (833)540-0473 between 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. for assistance.

Last month, West Hollywood hosted a COVID-19 Vaccine Panel Discussion, which can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=KgxMx7Lk1Ho.

While the vaccine stops people from getting sick, it is not yet clear if it stops people from spreading COVID-19 to other people. It is also not yet known how long people will be immune. So, everyone must still wear a face covering, maintain physical distance and avoid gathering outside of immediate households.

To ensure that people at higher risk of transmission and illness are vaccinated first, Los Angeles County has established a phased system. For information, visit publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidvaccinedistribution. For answers to frequently asked questions from L.A. County Public Health, visit.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/about/FAQ-Vaccine.pdf.

The State of California Department of Public Health has, additionally, established an online tool called MyTurn to assist all Californians in finding out when they are eligible for vaccination. Visit myturn.ca.gov and answer a few brief questions to determine eligibility.