WASHINGTON -- The current strain being felt at hospitals statewide due to record levels of COVID-19 cases is also being felt at COVID-19 testing sites with demand soaring nearly a week into the new year.
And for some, at-home COVID-19 test kits have been extremely difficult to find.
It took Kate Brown several days, but she finally scored an appointment at the last minute for a test at UW Medicine's COVID-19 testing site in Bellevue.
"The search has been crazy, and I think that’s because of holidays and travel," Smith told KOMO News.
The surge in demand for testing is also likely being fueled by new requirements to get kids back into their classrooms and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
At UW Medicine's COVID-19 testing site in Bellevue, workers say they're seeing upwards of about 3,000 patients per day – nearly double the normal amount. As of January 4, all of UW Medicine's COVID-19 testing sites are appointment-only, a spokeswoman said.
"We might go back to not appointments. We just have to see how it goes in the pandemic. I can’t promise anything, but right now – this is what we have to do to make sure that we’re processing people’s tests correctly and our lab doesn’t get overrun," said Jayme Longoria, Remote Site Supervisor at UW Medicine's COVID-19 testing site in Bellevue.
State health leaders know it’s been a struggle for a lot of people to find appointments and at-home tests, they said Thursday.
It remains unclear how long the increased demand for testing will last, they added.
"Look if you’re not sure or you can’t get the test, then act as if you have what you are otherwise concerned about," said Dr. Umair Shah, Washington State Secretary of Health. "In this case, if you’ve got symptoms and you can’t get a test – instead of frantically saying that I’ve got to go and clog up an emergency department – your symptoms are mild and further the strain on that health care system – you stay home. You isolate. Or if you don’t have symptoms, you’ve been exposed, and you can’t get a test – you quarantine. You wear a mask. You get your booster. You social distance. You wash your hands. You’re careful with everyone around you. You’re not going to a concert or your not going to game – you’re staying away from areas where you are potentially exposing others."
"If you feel you’re at risk because you have COVID-19 and you can’t get a test, there are activities that you should shun away from. And you do that for not just a day or an hour. You do that for at least 5 days. Maybe you do it for 10 days. But you don’t just act as if everything is fine – I’m gonna ignore it because that’s when you get yourself as well as others around you in trouble," Shah added.
Dr. Shah and others are also urging those looking to get tested not to clog up emergency rooms. They're already stretched thin as case counts reach record levels.
The same emotional strain currently being felt by many doctors and nurses is also impacting workers out in the field, Longoria said.
"These staff have been here since December 2020. And they have been here and they have been here for the community. And they are worn out. They need a little bit of a break, too," Longoria told KOMO News.
Typically, workers expect to see a surge for COVID-19 testing about 2 weeks before a holiday and about 2-4 weeks after a holiday, Longoria added.
Those who’ve recently booked a test say they consider themselves lucky.
Chenglin Gan's wife recently tested positive for COVID-19.
"The first time I tried to make an appointment, it was all full for 2 days. So, literally I had to get up the next day at 7am to refresh the website to make sure the day after there was availability," he said.
"Honestly, it’s not super frustrating. But it would be better if I want to do a test – I would be able to," he added.