News Flash Home
The original item was published from 7/21/2022 10:47:00 AM to 7/21/2022 10:47:50 AM.

News Flash

Health - Public Health News

Posted on: April 3, 2020

[ARCHIVED] Rapid COVID-19 Testing for High Priority Populations Now Available from WCHD

Rapid COVID-19 Testing for High Priority Populations Now Available from Whatcom County Health Department


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *UPDATE / CORRECTION*
April 3, 2020 

Media Contact: Claudia Murphy, WUC Public Information Officer
Phone: (360) 815-2701
E-mail address:[email protected]

NOTE: this version corrects the lab name, which was inaccurate in the original version. Northwest Labs is accurate.


BELLINGHAM, WA - Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) is now operating a drive-through COVID-19 testing site for high priority populations in a partnership with Northwest Labs. WCHD’s rapid testing team is responding to high priority testing needs with on-site testing at congregate living facilities for high-risk adults.

“By creating these opportunities for priority population testing, the Health Department aims to free up capacity at other medical provider or clinical agency testing locations for the public,” said Cindy Hollinsworth, Communicable Disease and Epidemiology manager at WCHD.

Testing at the WCHD drive-through site is only available by referral from a healthcare provider once the provider has determined an individual should be tested. Healthcare providers must order the tests from the WCHD directly; patients cannot request testing themselves.

High priority populations for testing by WCHD include people with symptoms of COVID-19 who:

  • work in healthcare or public safety sectors;
  • live or work in an institutional or congregate living setting;
  • are employed in essential services, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, public utilities, etc; and,
  • are at risk for severe illness (people over 60, people with underlying health conditions, and people who are pregnant).

Results from specimens collected through the WCHD drive-through site and rapid on-site response are anticipated to be provided within 24 hours of shipment to the lab.

Whatcom County Health Department has worked diligently to support this increased testing capacity, and will continue to explore avenues for increased testing.

Whatcom County Health Department has worked diligently to support this increased testing capacity, and will continue to explore avenues for increased testing.

This document is also available as a PDF.

Rapid COVID-19 testing photo

Whatcom County Health Department provides COVID-19 testing to high priority populations. Photo by John Meloy

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Health - Public Health News

June Pop-up Clinics

Posted on: May 26, 2023

April COVID-19 and Flu Pop-up Clinic

Posted on: April 3, 2023

March Pop-up Clinics

Posted on: February 28, 2023

February Pop-up Clinics

Posted on: January 30, 2023

January Pop-up Clinics

Posted on: December 29, 2022

December Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Posted on: November 28, 2022

November Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Posted on: October 31, 2022

October Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Posted on: October 3, 2022

Upcoming Free Septic Homeowner Trainings

Posted on: September 28, 2022

How to Report At-Home COVID-19 Test Results

Posted on: September 15, 2022

September Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Posted on: September 2, 2022