Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is working to move Los Angeles’ homeless population into recreation centers and homeless shelters in an attempt to protect them from the coronavirus.

Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, tells Inside the Issues about other efforts being made to protect the unhoused from COVID-19. 

She said now that county officials have begun to focus on the unsheltered populations, it’s a triage of figuring out how to test people, identify those that are healthy and then what protocols to take in both cases. 

“We’re really trying to get our hands on … hygiene kits, sanitation, protective gear, testing kits [and] thermometers,” she said.

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She said outreach workers are talking to the homeless about social distancing and working to move those who test positive into safe spots to self-quarantine. Buik said the workers are seeing a mixed reaction from the homeless.

“Some people are not aware of the severity of what's going on and so we're getting to them as quickly as we can,” she said. “Some people feel more safe in their tents right now, and then some people we are seeing a lot of people move into shelter because we have to shift our focus to more hygiene and people having the ability to shower and wash their hands.”

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She said the workers are working hard to build on their relationships with those they are talking to to find the best solution for them.

Watch the clip above for more.

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