FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVID-19 Testing Site at Cascade Mall to Reduce Hours Beginning October 31, 2022

Effective October 31, 2022, the hours of operation at Skagit County Public Health?s COVID-19 testing site at Cascade Mall, located at 150 Cascade Mall Drive in Burlington, will be changing. Testing services will be available the following days and times until further notice.

Mondays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Skagit County?s COVID-19 case rate has been decreasing steadily since mid-July. The site has also seen a decrease in utilization, partially due to the wide availability of at-home testing kits. The reduction in operating hours will allow Public Health to serve the needs of the community in different ways. Some strategies may include an increase in targeted outreach efforts to homebound seniors, non-English speaking communities, and more rural areas like East County.

?It?s important to monitor data and adapt strategies when necessary. This change will allow us to meet current community need, while still being ready to meet future demand, should we experience another COVID-19 surge,? says Julie de Losada, Skagit County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager.

COVID-19 rapid antigen testing and Flu A & B testing will continue to be conducted via drive-through. Testing services are provided at no-cost and are available to those 5 years of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Skagit County. No appointment, ID, or insurance is needed. For more information about the Cascade Mall testing site, please call Skagit County Public Health at (360) 416-1500.

Several additional COVID-19 testing options are available to community members. An updated list of local testing providers can be found on Skagit County Public Health?s website.

Free, rapid, at-home test kits shipped directly to you are also still available via the state?s Say Yes COVID Test website at https://www.sayyescovidhometest.org/ (new orders can be placed every month).

If you have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, your insurer is required to cover the cost of eight at-home tests for each person enrolled in your health insurance plan each month. Additionally, some insurance plans will cover the cost of tests at pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS. The test will either be free directly at the point of sale or by reimbursement of up to $12 per individual test. Please contact your health insurance provider for information regarding the specifics of coverage for at-home COVID-19 tests, as coverage varies by provider.

We encourage community members to maintain a supply of at-home test kits, especially as we move into cold/flu and the holiday season. Testing, along with vaccination, wearing a well-fitted mask, and physical distancing help protect yourself and others by reducing the chances of spreading COVID-19. To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit www.skagitcounty.net/COVIDvaccine or call Skagit County Public Health at (360) 416-1500 for assistance.

For more information about when to get tested, how to take an at-home test, when to quarantine or isolate, and treatment options, please visit https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/testing-covid-19.

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