Whatcom health department closes afternoon drive-thru COVID-19 testing due to smoke
Whatcom Unified Command has closed its low-barrier mobile testing site scheduled to be held Friday afternoon, Sept. 11, at the Sikh temple in Lynden due to concerns about wildfire smoke from California and Oregon moving into the area.
Whatcom County Health Department spokesperson Ali Jensen told The Bellingham Herald about the closure in an email Friday. The mobile testing program website has been updated with the changes.
Testing was originally scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Friday at the Sikh Temple at 176 East Pole Road to serve residents in the Meridian School District.
Whatcom County Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern recommended canceling Friday’s testing in order to protect those scheduled for testing, as well as staff members, from the unhealthy air conditions, according to a health department release. Those who had appointments will be notified of the cancellations and be allowed to reschedule for a later date.
The test site organizers plan to meet Friday afternoon to discuss whether testing should resume Saturday, Sept. 12, at Bellingham’s Civic Stadium, Jensen reported. Organizers also will “continue to monitor air quality and may need to close that testing site as well,” the release stated.
Testing is scheduled to be held at Civic from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Testing being held Friday morning at Bender Fields continued as scheduled, Jensen reported.
The mobile testing program is operated by Whatcom Unified Command and staffed by Whatcom County Health Department registered nurses and unified command volunteers.
PeaceHealth told The Bellingham Herald that, as of Friday morning, it had no plans to close its outdoor testing sites because of the smoke.
Smoke and COVID
Wildfire smoke can cause many of the same symptoms we’ve all been trained to watch for as early signs of COVID-19, the Washington State Department of Health said in a release Thursday, Sept. 10.
“Breathing in wildfire smoke can cause symptoms that are relatively minor — such as eye, nose, and throat irritation — and also more dangerous symptoms, like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath,” the release said. “If you’ve got red, itchy eyes and no fever right now, the good news is this is not generally a symptom of COVID-19. However, it can be a sign that the wildfire smoke in the air is affecting your body.”
If you do have mild symptoms, such as itchy eyes or an irritated nose or throats, the Department of Health recommends taking steps to reduce your exposure.
Fortunately, these fall pretty much in line with many of the social distancing practices we’re already been practicing the past six months:
▪ Stay indoors with just members of your household and delay get-togethers until the air quality improves.
▪ Reduce outdoor physical activity, saving walks, jogs and yard work for later.
▪ Keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors, improving your indoor air filtration in your home and avoid doing anything that will create more smoke or dust in the air.
▪ Though cloth face coverings don’t help much with air particles from smoke, continue to wear them to reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19.
▪ If you do develop coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath, call your health care provider or 911 if you are really struggling to breathe.
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 10:10 AM.
