SEATTLE — Have you ever been in a bind and needed a COVID test, ASAP? A free test program in Washington state is now fully operational, with the goal of helping people with that need.
Launched by the Washington State Department of Health in conjunction with local health jurisdictions, there are now 20 COVID testing kiosks in place across the state; about a dozen of them are located around Puget Sound.
Resembling something between a vending machine and a refrigerator, the kiosks dispense a free COVID or Flu test at no cost.
"It's a very high-tech kind of vending machine essentially, with a smart screen on it so as an individual, you would walk up to the screen and touch a few buttons, enter very minor demographic information depending on the test that you are attempting to retrieve, and then it just dispenses it right to you," said Kristina Allen, Community Testing Supervisor for the WA DOH.
Visitors can get a COVID-19 rapid antigen test or a self-swab PCR test in addition to flu tests. They're located in a variety of places, from food banks to health clinics and churches.
"It's a really wonderful program that provides individuals access nearly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to this resource," Allen said.
The DOH considered underserved and rural communities for where the kiosks are placed.
"Tribal partners were absolutely one that we wanted to prioritize, as well as rural communities," Allen said.
The program launched in February of this year. By July, all kiosks are fully operational and the DOH says people are using them.
"We've seen significant usage of these kiosks, upwards of 8,000 tests dispensed so far, that's no small number," Allen said.
Allen said some jurisdictions have opted to include other healthcare items like UTI test kits, naloxone, and fentanyl test trips.
A full list of kiosk locations can be found at doh.wa.gov.
While the kiosk program is set to sunset on Dec. 31 of this year, Allen said there are currently discussions about its future.
"If the program does end, local jurisdictions and tribes will have the option to continue the program independently," Allen said.