One day after confirming the county’s first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a rapid-testing site opened at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Dec. 3, offering free — but voluntary — COVID tests for arriving international passengers.
The COVID testing at the Tom Bradley International Terminal is being offered strictly on a voluntary basis, since there is no federal requirement for inbound passengers to be tested.
“The federal government is highly recommending that people get tested,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Thursday. “We will have our health workers out there, as well, talking to people, making sure they understand the importance of testing. We are using a rapid antigen test there, so people will be able to get their results before they leave the airport.”
She added that anyone who tests negative will be given a take-home test kit so they can test themselves again three to five days later.
Health officials are making a…