COVID-19 free drive through testing site extended through Friday

By Dan Hammock Grays Harbor News Group • April 27, 2020 4:30 pm
COURTESY GRAYS HARBOR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM The drive through COVID-19 testing site at Grays Harbor College will remain open through Friday. Anyone age 18 and older experiencing any of an expanded list of symptoms can make an appointment for the free test.
COURTESY GRAYS HARBOR INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM The drive through COVID-19 testing site at Grays Harbor College will remain open through Friday. Anyone age 18 and older experiencing any of an expanded list of symptoms can make an appointment for the free test.

Drive-through COVID-19 testing will continue at Grays Harbor College through Friday. The site has tested 377 people since it opened April 15, according to numbers provided Sunday by Brianne Probasco with Grays Harbor Public Health. No positive cases have been reported in the county since April 12, and the total confirmed positive results stand at a dozen.

As positive tests are identified, they are counted based on the person’s county of residence. Probasco said a case reported last week involving a positive test for a Grays Harbor Community Hospital worker is not included in the county numbers because that person lives outside the county.

“But our Public Health staff did complete disease investigation and contact tracing as needed with that case,” she said.

As of Monday morning, of the 377 tests taken at the site, Public Health was awaiting results for only 21, said Probasco. Depending on the state Public Health Lab’s capacity to process specimens, it usually takes 3-5 days to get test results.

Testing at the community-based drive-through site, operated by Public Health with assistance from the Washington National Guard, is done with a nasal swab. This testing site does not have the capabilities to test for antibodies to COVID-19, said Probasco, who recommends anyone interested in COVID-19 antibody testing contact their primary care provider.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 and are 18 years or older, call Grays Harbor Public Health’s COVID-19 call center at 360-964-1850 and get a free test scheduled. You do not need to be a Grays Harbor County resident. Testing services are available in both English and Spanish and the call center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After May 1, 2020 testing for COVID 19 will be coordinated with local hospitals, said Probasco.

Based on CDC information, the list of symptoms associated with COVID-19 has been expanded and includes:

· fever

· cough

· difficulty breathing

· repeated shaking with chills

· muscle pain

· headache

· sore throat

· new loss of taste or smell

For any questions about COVID-19 and the county’s response call 360-964-1850, email covid19@co.graysharbor.wa.gov, or go online at http://www.healthyGH.org.