COVID-19 rapid tests are now available at various distribution points throughout Whatcom County, thanks to a federal program providing tests through community health centers.
The City of Bellingham received 16,200 tests this week on behalf of Unity Care NW, which lacked the storage capacity for such a large number of tests. The tests have been distributed among a range of community partners, with a focus on underserved communities and businesses in the service industry.
The general public can obtain tests at the following locations (quantities are limited and availability is not guaranteed):
● Bellingham Fire Station 1, 1800 Broadway, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., limit of two test kits per family (each kit contains two tests).
● Some Whatcom County fire district stations, please contact individual stations to confirm.
● Community food banks, please contact individual locations to confirm.
Whatcom County Library System locations have also been receiving and distributing test kits from
Unity Care NW. Quantities are limited to five per family per week. Demand has been strong. Please contact individual county library branches (outside Bellingham city limits) to confirm availability (wcls.org/info). Please note: Bellingham Public Library is a separate organization, and City of Bellingham distribution is through the Fire Department, not through Bellingham Public Library.
Unity Care NW, a Federally Qualified Community Health Center, is able to receive free at-home, FDA-authorized COVID-19 testing supplies as part of the Biden Administration’s Path Out of the Pandemic COVID-19 Action Plan, through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Defense for distribution to their communities. When the national supply permits, Unity Care NW is able to order test kits to share with the wider community, and hopes to receive more by the end of February.
Whatcom County residents also have two options for ordering free rapid at-home COVID-19 tests. Four free tests can be ordered from the federal government through covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). In addition, up to five free tests can be ordered from the Washington State Department of Health at sayyescovidhometest.org or by calling 1-800-525-0127.