Drive-through, low-barrier Covid-19 testing is available in Bellingham, Blaine / Birch Bay, Ferndale, Deming, Everson and Lynden at mobile locations organized and staffed by the Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD) and Whatcom Unified Command (WUC). The program will continue at all sites throughout the county during the week of Aug. 31 - Sept. 4.
“The first week of testing at all seven county locations has gone very well, with a daily average of 166 specimens processed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. Testing is a key component in disease containment, and we’re pleased to offer a needed program for those with barriers to testing,” said Erika Lautenbach, director of the Whatcom County Health Department. “The feedback we’ve received from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Bellingham: Monday and Saturday 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., at Civic Field, 1355 Civic Field Way, Bellingham, WA 98229
Blaine / Birch Bay: Tuesday, 9 a.m. - noon at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Rd, Blaine, WA 98230
Ferndale: Tuesday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248
Deming: Wednesday, 9 a.m. - noon at Nooksack Casino, 5048 Mt. Baker Highway, Deming, WA 98244
Everson: Wednesday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Christ Fellowship, 1208 E. Main St., Everson, WA 98248
Lynden: Friday, 9 a.m. - noon at Bender Fields, 8770 Bender Rd., Lynden, WA 98264
Lynden: Friday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Sikh Temple 176 East Pole Rd., Lynden, WA 98264
Effective Saturday, Aug. 29, the Bellingham testing site will be located at Civic Field. This change will help reduce traffic disruptions and improve safety for staff, volunteers and those seeking tests.
Appointments for the upcoming week can be scheduled online at www.TestDirectly.com starting Saturday, August 29. The Testing Access Scheduling Line at (360) 778-6075 is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily for anyone who cannot schedule online or for those who need additional assistance.
Anyone can get tested through the mobile program, including those without insurance or a physician referral, and there is no cost to be tested. For billing purposes, anyone with insurance must provide their insurance information when scheduling an appointment. Those without insurance can also be tested at no cost to them through a federal program that will reimburse the Health Department for all costs associated with the test. People who have insurance are not eligible for the federal program and may be held responsible for the cost of a COVID-19 test if they do not provide their health insurance information.
All individuals with positive test results will receive a call from the WCHD with information about isolation and limiting spread of the virus, and to begin the process of contact tracing.For more information on the mobile testing program and testing in Whatcom County visit the Whatcom County Health Department’s testing page.
