Jan. 3, 2022

Demand for COVID-19 testing is extremely high

Need a test? Check our updated list of COVID-19 testing providers in Kitsap and please be patient as you seek a testing appointment. 

Kitsap County's COVID-19 case rate is higher now than at any previous point in the pandemic.

With COVID-19 activity surging, demand for COVID-19 testing is extremely high. 

The new wave of cases is straining testing availability nationwide and locally. Testing appointments and over-the-counter testing kits may be more difficult to find. Be patient as you seek a test and plan well in advance if you need a test to participate in activities like travel.

If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and follow public health guidance for quarantine or isolation while you are looking for a testing appointment.

Here are additional updates and tips regarding COVID-19 testing: 

• We updated our list of organizations providing COVID-19 testing in Kitsap County. If you need a test, you can use this list to find providers in your area. 
  
  
• Kitsap Public Health District and the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center are working to expand drive-through COVID-19 testing availability. We expect to announce additional testing opportunities soon. View our current drive-through testing site schedule.
  
  Our drive-through testing sites are intended for people who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are close contacts of COVID-19 cases. If you need testing for other purposes, please contact a different testing provider.  
  
  
• DO NOT go to St. Michael Medical Center emergency department for routine COVID-19 testing. The hospital reports that some residents are coming to the emergency department to seek screening tests for travel and other activities. We need to keep emergency department resources available for medical emergencies. 
  
  
• If you are testing for reasons other than being a close contact to a COVID-19 case or having symptoms of COVID-19, contact your insurance provider prior to visiting a testing site. The cost for testing in lieu of complying with a vaccination mandate or testing for travel may not be covered by your insurance company.
  
  
• If you use an at-home testing kit and test positive COVID-19, report your result to the state hotline at 1-800-525-0127. Be aware that this hotline is experiencing a very high volume of calls. 
  
  
• If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or test positive, do not wait for a call from public health to take action. The sudden surge in cases has stretched our state's capacity for case investigation and contact tracing. Please follow the CDC's updated guidance for quarantine and isolation. If you need resources to help you stay home during your quarantine or isolation period, you can contact our COVID-19 case management program at 360-728-2235.
  

  If you test positive for COVID-19, notify people you have been in close contact with, starting two days before you first noticed symptoms or your test date. The CDC defines a close contact as anyone who you were within 6 feet of for a combined total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Here are tips for notifying close contacts and additional guidance from DOH for what to do if you test positive.

UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION The CDC and Washington State Department of Health adopted new guidance for what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Find the new guidance here >>

🩹 BOOK A COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENT

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination and booster doses as the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19, including the Omicron variant. Here are resources to help you find a vaccination appointment:

• vaccines.gov | Federal vaccine finder tool updated by providers (you can use it to find your flu shot too!) 
• vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov | State vaccine finder tool updated by providers.
• List of Kitsap vaccine providers | PDF list updated by Kitsap Public Health
• List of Kitsap vaccine providers for ages 5-11 | PDF list updated by Kitsap Public Health

QUESTIONS? Email pio@kitsappublichealth.org or call 360-728-2219