SEATTLE — Testing for COVID-19 is ramping up around Western Washington, with many hospitals starting to offer drive-through testing.
One of those is Kaiser Permanente, which already has four drive-through clinics operational for coronavirus testing for Kaiser Permanente members only.
Those test sites are:
- Lynnwood: Kaiser Permanente Lynnwood Medical Center - 20200 54th Ave. W.
- Puyallup: Kaiser Permanente Puyallup Medical Center - 1007 39th Ave. S.E., Puyallup, WA 98374
- Bellevue/Factoria: Kaiser Permanente Factoria Medical Center - 13451 S.E. 36th St., Bellevue, WA 98006
- Everett: The large parking lot near Everett Memorial Stadium at 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
You do need a doctor’s order, must be showing symptoms, and be considered in a vulnerable population – someone 60 or older or with preexisting conditions – in order to be tested.
>> Coronavirus: Washington updates
On Thursday, Kaiser Permanente says, it will add drive-through testing at four additional clinics, and close down the site at its administrative building in Renton. Those sites will be:
- Olympia: Kaiser Permanente Olympia Medical Center - 700 Lilly Road N.E., Olympia, WA 98506
- Seattle: Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Campus - 201 16th Ave. E. Seattle, WA 98112
- Silverdale: Kaiser Permanente Silverdale Medical Center - 10452 Silverdale Way N.W. Silverdale, WA 98383
- Burien: Kaiser Permanente Burien Medical Center -140 SW 146th St, Burien, WA 98166
Pacific Medical Centers is offering testing to registered patients who qualify based on testing criteria and call ahead for screening.
PacMed requests patients qualify and reserve a test by calling 1-888-472-2633. Tests will only be given to patients who meet symptom or risk criteria.
The locations follow:
- PacMed Northgate clinic – Parking lot at 10416 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
- PacMed Beacon Hill clinic – 2nd floor of patient parking garage
- PacMed Renton clinic – Parking lot
UW Medicine opened drive-through testing for its patients and first responders at its northwest campus. It opened the first drive thru COVID-19 test clinic in the area March 6 for staff and students.
Snoqualmie Valley Hospital started testing patients March 9 and ran out of supplies in just over a week, forcing it to suspend testing for now.
The hospital said on its website, “The COVID-19 Testing Site is temporarily suspending sample collections due to national manufacturer back-orders on collection supplies.”
Swedish Medical Center said drive-through testing is available at its Issaquah clinic, and the test site is in a parking garage – much like UW’s first clinic. It also has testing available for eligible patients at its First Hill clinic.
- Swedish Issaquah: 751 N.E. Blakely Drive (parking garage)
- Swedish First Hill, Seattle: 515 Minor Ave; Suite 170
- Swedish Edmonds: (Coming Soon)
Seattle Children’s Hospital is also providing drive-through testing to its employees. The hospital has tested 166 staff members so far, with four who have tested positive.
An appointment-only drive through testing site opened in Everett.
High-risk Snohomish County residents with coronavirus symptoms, including those who work in healthcare, public safety or critical infrastructure, can get free testing.
A website has been set up at https://redcap.link/Snohomish-COVID-19 where people will be asked a series of questions and, if they meet testing requirements, will be given an appointment.
More information also is available at www.snohd.org/drive-thru-testing.
A spokesperson for Washington State said that widespread testing for anyone who wants it is not likely, saying the capacity does not currently exist – but that the state is continuing to increase testing capability for vulnerable populations.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
