Whatcom County will again offer COVID-19 drive-thru testing. Here’s where
A drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will operate again for two days after nearly 800 people waited in long lines to get tested last weekend.
The next round of testing, which is free, is set for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 17 and 18, at the Civic Field Stadium parking lot.
A total of 793 people were tested during the 12 hours the site was open last weekend, according to information from the Whatcom County Health Department on Tuesday, July 14.
Of that, six people tested positive, according to Amy Cloud, spokesperson for Whatcom Unified command.
Most people had been contacted with their results by Monday, except for a small number of people whose contact information was incomplete, the Health Department said.
People tested at the site who haven’t yet received their results should call 360-778-6100.
Information provided so far is preliminary, health officials said, adding that final numbers are pending the usual data reconciliation and verification process.
The Health Department provided this overview of last weekend’s event, which was the site’s inaugural run:
▪ Nearly everyone tested was 18 to 79 years old.
▪ Those who were 18 to 29 years old made up the biggest percentage of those tested at 28%, or 222 people.
▪ A total of 575 people, or 73% of those tested, said they were Bellingham residents.
▪ The next largest group came from Ferndale, which totaled 58 people or 7% of those tested.
Few people came from outside of Whatcom County, according to Health Department data.
“We are glad that so many residents were able to participate in our drive-thru testing pilot program,” the Health Department said in a news release on Tuesday.
At least 80 volunteers helped operate the site the first weekend, where people could get tested for COVID-19 without first having to have a doctor’s order, an appointment or insurance in an effort to lower any barrier to testing that people may have faced.
To get tested this coming Friday and Saturday, enter the Civic Athletic Complex on Puget Street via Fraser Street.
Motorists will be directed on where to go and are being asked to stay in their vehicles while waiting to be tested. Lines may be long and there are no public restrooms there, officials said.
Bring personal identification and an insurance card, although you can get tested even without them.
More details on the Health Department’s COVID-19 testing page at whatcomcounty.us/3388/COVID-19-Testing.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 4:22 PM.
