Los Angeles becomes the first major US city to offer free coronavirus tests to all residents regardless of whether they have symptoms

Los Angeles has become the first major US city to offer free coronavirus testing to all residents regardless of whether they have symptoms, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday.

Testing centers set up across the city were previously reserved for people with symptoms and members of the essential workforce, such as healthcare and grocery store workers. 

Garcetti said officials hope the widescale testing will help stem the spread of the deadly infection by identifying asymptomatic carriers while also gaining a better understanding of its impacts on the community.  

'As long as this disease spreads, we have to continue to scale, and as long as this disease takes lives, we must test,' the mayor said at his daily coronavirus briefing.

'We know that coronavirus is a silent killer that moves quietly through the population, and many of the people who transmit the disease, this is why it is so deadly, don't know that they have it.' 

Los Angeles became the first major US city to offer free coronavirus tests to all residents regardless of whether they have symptoms on Wednesday. Pictured: A woman receives a test at a screening site in LA's skid row district on April 20

People can sign up online for appointments starting immediately, Garcetti said, noting that priority will still be given to those with symptoms, such as a fever, cough and shortness of breath. 

Los Angeles city and county were slow to set up widespread testing but in recent weeks expanded the number of test sites. 

As of Wednesday, there were 34 sites across the county, Garcetti said. He said he's confident the city will have the capacity to test everyone.

'This is a smart thing to do,' he said. 'It's smart to make sure that you are clear.'

Residents who feel healthy, have been staying at home and haven't been in contact with infected people may decide against getting testing, he said. 

People will be able to go back for tests several times, without limit.

About half of California's total coronavirus cases are in the Los Angeles area, with at least 22,485 cases and 1,056 deaths. 

LA County reported 1,541 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, the largest increase of infections reported in a single day since the outbreak began.

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the large number is primarily due to increased testing - in part at institutional settings - and some lag in reporting from last weekend.