City Officials Visit Community Labs SA
November 2, 2020 - San Antonio
A behind-the-scenes look. Last week, District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval (left) and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg (second from left) visited Community Labs SA to learn how the laboratory processes coronavirus tests. Photo: City of San Antonio.
By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Mayor Ron Nirenberg and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval recently toured Community Labs SA
- As of Sunday evening, there have been a total of 66,064 Covid-19 cases in San Antonio since the health crises began and 1,260 deaths
Last week, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval toured Community Labs SA, an organization that works with schools and businesses to create Covid-19 safety zones in an effort to build pathways for communities to ultimately recover the pandemic.
The nonprofit identifies asymptomatic silent spreaders of Covid-19 by providing a test result within 24 hours with “a less invasive test by swabbing the front of the nostril,” according to the organization’s website.
In a meeting with the technicians involved in the work, Nirenberg and Sandoval were briefed with an overview of the process to obtain a Covid-19 test result. They also discussed ways to further improve the process in order to better serve the community, said a City spokesperson.
“Community Labs is doing impressive, innovative work to identify silent spreaders and curb the spread of Covid-19 in our community,” Sandoval said in a statement. “We’re fortunate to have a partner in Community Labs as we carry out the most robust Covid-19 response possible.”
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As of Monday, the City of San Antonio website lists the community risk level at moderate and recommends that residents “stay home when possible.”
As of Sunday evening, there have been a total of 66,064 coronavirus cases in San Antonio since the health crises began and 1,260 deaths.
“Do not let your guard down,” said Nirenberg at a press briefing on Friday. “This is a really critical time for our community in the course of this pandemic. Let’s keep each other safe, work together, and we will get through this together.”
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.