At Least 54 construction workers test positive at Inglewood construction site

The multi billion dollar NFL stadium project has turned into a hotbed of the deadly coronavirus pandemic ravishing Los Angeles County.  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed that the nearly 300 acre park has 54 construction workers testing positive for COVID-19.

Construction workers are employed by Turner AECOM Hunt located at 1000 S Prairie Ave and Pankow Construction located at 898 S Prairie Ave, who are tasked with the construction of SoFi Stadium and adjacent structures.  Pankow is building close to the intersection of Prairie and Century Blvd.

So far, two construction workers have died on the project.

Related: Attorney for worker who died in SoFi Stadium fall says safety lapses contributed

Juan Becerra fell nearly 100ft from the stadiums roof in June of this year and according to the L.A. County Coroner, Simon Fite died on the stadiums roof.

Related: Construction on Rams stadium in Inglewood will continue during ‘stay home’ order

Governor Gavin Newsom mandated a stay at home order in mid March 2020 but after reading the order, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts said “his” interpretation of the order meant that construction work should be exempted.

Other COVID-19 hotspots in the city of Inglewood include multiple nursing homes

• Inglewood Health Care Center:  100 E. Hillcrest Blvd; 14 staff, 45 residents and 11 deaths
• Osage Health and Wellness Center:  1001 S. Osage; 6 staff, 27 residents and 6 deaths
• Primrose Post-Acute:  515 Centinela Ave; 21 staff, 33 residents and 5 death

As of July 20, 2020, the city of Inglewood had 1,628 confirmed positive cases and 71 deaths.  It is unclear if the cases work or live in the city of Inglewood.

One place that isn’t experiencing any positive cases is at the city of Inglewood.  Mayor Butts mandated employees be scheduled for testing at the Forum every two weeks.  Employees are given the times they are scheduled to show up to be tested.

Employees continue to complain that the city’s Human Resources department is using their confidential information without their permission to schedule the testing.  In order to schedule a FREE test at the Forum, you must be experiencing symptoms and/or been around someone who has tested positive.  Those with a positive test are asked to take another test after the 14 day quarantine period has ended.  How is the city of Inglewood Human Resources department bypassing regular protocols to test employees every two weeks who don’t have symptoms?

Can either Governor Gavin Newsom, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors or L.A. County Department of Public Health explain why city of Inglewood employees get bi-weekly tests?  If so, based on the high number of COVID-19 cases by construction workers, frequenting businesses in the city, are ALL Inglewood residents entitled to FREE testing with same criteria used for city staff?