Seattle gets 3 new COVID-19 testing kiosks

SEATTLE — Seattle now has three new walk-up kiosks at locations in north, central and south Seattle where people can get a COVID-19 test free of charge.

Two of the new kiosks launched Tuesday and the third launched on Saturday.

Operating hours may be changed depending on demand, with initial days and hours set at Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The locations are as follows, with the North Seattle and Uptown locations now open. The South Seattle location opens Dec. 26.

North Seattle: Lower Woodland Park

Uptown/Seattle Center: 2nd Ave and Republican, near the Seattle Repertory Theatre

South Seattle: Old UW Laundry site west of Mt. Baker Light Rail Station

Those who want to be tested must register in advance on Curative.com. Curative is the medical testing company that provided the new kiosks. There is also a map showing the locations.

Clients will collect their own test samples at the kiosk with the help of a Curative staff member who will be available to walk clients through the process.

Results will be ready online within 48 hours.

Seattle’s testing coordinators chose the kiosk locations sites based on demand, rate of positive cases and underserved populations.

The city said clients will not be charged and will not receive a bill, regardless of their insurance status.

By introducing the testing kiosks, Seattle emergency workers said they hoped to add more testing to a system that’s stretched very thin.

In Seattle alone, 5,500 people are getting tested every single day at drive through test sites,

According to Seattle Fire Department, the number of people getting tested is similar to the overwhelming demand that occurred to Thanksgiving week.

“It creates a backlog,” noted Capt. Brian Wallace, Seattle Fire Department. “It takes longer for (ill) people to get their results and it’s really not the best way to use this resource.”

Cox Media Group