The UCSF and Latino Task Force launched the COVID-19 test on Sunday. The test was intended for the minority group who wanted to be tested for the virus. 

(Photo : George Frey/Getty Images)

The impact of the global pandemic varies on the geography, ethnicity, race, age, and among others. But it cannot be denied that the Latino community in the country is the largest minority group is heavily impacted by the pandemic. 

If not all but most of them were not able to get the chance to be tested for the virus due to their immigration status. Even though they played essential roles amid the pandemic, the largest minority group was left behind and almost forgotten in giving them health and financial assistance. 

One way of determining the real number of COVID-19 cases is through COVID-19 tests. The UCSF and Latino Task Force launched a Covid-19 testing campaign on Sunday morning at the 24th Street BART station, according to a published article in Mission Local.

The article also reported that they did not find any problems in looking for Latino residents and workers to participate in the test. In fact, before the testing site opened at 9:00 a.m. people were already on the line that stretched on 24th Street and wrapped north on Capp Street.

Meanwhile, the Latino elderly including the disabled waited in a shorter line heading north on Mission Street. The UCSF and the Latino Task Force plans to test 500 residents a day until Tuesday and then they will return on Monday after Thanksgiving and expand their reach to other neighborhoods.

Bertha who was in line with her husband Rodrigo shared that they have no symptoms but someone in the household they visited tested positive for the virus. They wanted to make sure that they are not asymptomatic. Another Latino named Victor who works as a waiter also said that he wanted to be tested as a precaution. 

Moreover, most of those who are in the lines wanted to be tested for COVID-19 to make sure that they are negative before Thanksgiving. Latinos are known as family-oriented which means that they are expected to gather during the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The UCSF and Latino Task Force performed both the PCR test and the Binax rapid test. According to the researchers from the UCSF, the Binax rapid test was able to determine 14 out of 15 who tested positive using the standard PCR test.

Dr. Diane Havlir, chief of UCSF's Division of HIV/AIDS, Infectious Disease, and Global Medicine who has collaborated closely with the Latino Task Force to develop the Mission testing campaigns, said they are also collecting more information on possible risk factors, asking questions such as where people have been to see if there is a correlation between activity and positivity.

Dr. Carina Marquez, a UCSF researcher who has worked on all of the Mission testing campaigns, also said that the results from the rapid testing take 15 minutes only and anyone who tests positive will be contacted immediately by the wellness team. Dr. Marquez also added that they are planning to offer those who will test positive for COVID-19 the option of having the entire household to be tested as well.