COVID-19 testing options expanding in Seattle

SEATTLE — Mayor Bruce Harrell announced on Tuesday that Seattle is expanding its COVID-19 testing options.

Starting Wednesday, a new PCR testing kiosk owned by Curative, which has a partnership with the city, will open at Seattle Pacific University.

The new kiosk, located at 315 West Bertona Street, is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Existing Curative sites at the Paramount Theater, Convention Center, and Garfield Playfield will be expanding capacity and adding a new type of rapid PCR test for faster results later this month.

“Rapid PCR tests detect viral RNA which is a more direct and sensitive method of detection, leading to higher accuracy of test within 2 hours,” a news release from the mayor’s office said.

Results from non-rapid PCR tests may take up 72 hours.

The locations that will move to PCR tests later this month include:

• Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101; open 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• WA State Convention Center, 705 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101; open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Garfield Playfield-Tennis Court, 501-653 25th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122; open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

City officials urge people to only use testing locations verified by the city, county, or state that are posted on their websites.

Other city testing sites include fixed locations with UW Medicine and other Curative kiosks across the city.

The Biden administration is expanding testing options, too.

Americans can now order four free COVID-19 rapid tests to be delivered to their home at covidtests.gov.

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