BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Rapid COVID-19 testing is now available for high priority patients in Whatcom County.
The Whatcom County Health Department is now operating a drive-through testing site in a partnership with Northwest Laboratory.
The department’s Communicable Disease and Epidemiology manager, Cindy Hollinsworth, says they hope this will free up capacity at other public testing locations.
The drive-through testing is only available by referral from a healthcare provider.
Eligible high priority populations include people with symptoms of COVID-19 who:
- work in healthcare or public safety sectors;
- live or work in an institutional or congregate living setting;
- are employed in essential services, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, public utilities, etc; and,
- are at risk for severe illness (people over 60, people with underlying health conditions, and people who are pregnant).
The health department expects those test results to be provided within 24 hours of shipment to the lab.