Will the COVID-19 testing site at PedEast slow the South Bay spike? | Lyndsay Winkley

<p>Later this week, a COVID-19 testing site will open up just outside PedEast, where tens of thousands of pedestrians cross into the United States from Mexico every day.</p><p>The location is thought to be the closest testing location to the U.S.-Mexico border in any state, and is the result, the county says, of a data-driven, community-led strategy that aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 in South Bay communities.</p><p>Officials have long known that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the South County region, where cases continue to climb. Factors that contribute to these increases include long-standing disparities in access to health care, a large population of essential workers and a lack of affordable housing.</p><p>Proximity to the border also plays a role, county officials said.</p><p>Read more: <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/story/2020-08-09/new-testing-site-at-pedeast-crossing-first-of-its-kind-along-u-s-mexico-border" target="_blank">https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/story/2020-08-09/new-testing-site-at-pedeast-crossing-first-of-its-kind-along-u-s-mexico-border</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Contact the reporters: <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lyndsay-winkley-staff.html" target="_blank">https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-lyndsay-winkley-staff.html</a></p><p><a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-gustavo-solis-staff.html" target="_blank">https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-gustavo-solis-staff.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Check out our COVID-19 tracker: <a href="http://uniontrib.com/coronavirus-data" target="_blank">uniontrib.com/coronavirus-data</a></p>