Providence opens COVID-19 drive-thru in Lacey to test those most at risk
Providence Medical Group has opened a drive-thru in Lacey to triage, and if needed, to collect swabs from those showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus and who are at risk for complications.
High-risk patients, according to Providence, are those with a fever and new cough or congestion, and are either an older adult or who have the following underlying medical conditions: asthma, COPD or other chronic lung diseases; congestive heart failure; diabetes; HIV or cancer. People undergoing chemotherapy; women who are pregnant or breast feeding; health care workers and first responders also are at risk.
Health care workers and first responders are asked to bring their identification.
Providence spokesman Chris Thomas urged those seeking a test to call ahead at 360-486-6800. The drive-thru is at 2555 Marvin Road NE.
Providence is asking for health insurance, but if the patient doesn’t have health insurance, they will not be turned away, Thomas said.
The drive-thru had a soft opening for health care workers and first responders on Friday, a soft public opening on Saturday. Now it is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Providence tested 120-140 people on Saturday, Thomas said. The average wait was 15 minutes, the longest was about 30 minutes, he said.
Patients who are not considered symptomatic high-risk patients will not be tested, but will be given education on how to monitor symptoms.
The turnaround time on a test is five days, Thomas said, but Providence is working on shortening that time.
Providence is also considering a drive-thru location in Lewis County and a second site in Thurston County, he said.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 11:49 AM.
