FOLLOWUP: Testing extended at city-run West Seattle site

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

One week ago, we reported that the city was going to stop offering COVID-19 tests at the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot, to devote that site entirely to vaccinating. Today – with an ongoing countywide increase in cases – the city has changed its mind, and says it’ll keep offering testing there through at least April 17th. While our area is not described in the announcement from the mayor’s office as having a spike in cases, it is seeing a rise in testing demand at the West Seattle site. You can make a testing appointment by going here. (Vaccinations will continue there, too.)

Lisa March 29, 2021 (4:40 pm)

If I’m not mistaken, according to the West Seattle Trends posted yesterday on the blog, aren’t we up 50% from 2 weeks ago? May not have been in the mayor’s report but there is a reason they’re keeping it open!

BetteDavisEyes March 29, 2021 (6:20 pm)

Agreed. We’re not doing as badly as some parts of the country, but it does appear we’re experiencing an upward trend in new case numbers again. It’s also concerning that our mayor is now joining the clamor to open up vaccinations to everyone, rather than continuing to step down the age brackets as supplies become available. Doing so without enough vaccine to back it up is just going to cause much higher levels of frustration when far larger numbers of people are unable to get appointments. As long as there isn’t enough vaccine for everyone yet, only the next highest risk group should be allowed to go next.
- flimflam March 29, 2021 (7:19 pm)
  
  the entire rush to reopen was odd and off curse from the last year in my opinion.i can only guess special interest groups, etc got to Inslee. why else rush to open restaurants to indoor dining when no employees were eligible for a vaccine? then further open to 50%? it makes no sense and hopefully this isn’t driving the new cases/hospitalizations.is your burger really worth it?
- Curious March 29, 2021 (7:49 pm)
  
  I’m suspicious of supply being all that constrained, it looks more like poor distribution. There are larger states that are up to all age distribution now, we’re lagging behind. Also, appointment availability outside king county is plentiful, meaning the supply is under utilized. Doesn’t add up.
  - BetteDavisEyes March 30, 2021 (12:17 am)
    
    Curious, I’m curious why you think that? I’m able to easily find information about supply received, distributed and administered, and it seems our state is actually doing a pretty good job. There’s a different reason, though, why some other states are making vaccinations available to everyone sooner – they have lower vaccine adoption rates, i.e., a smaller portion of the population willing to be vaccinated. When vaccination appointments are not being filled because eligible people don’t want to be vaccinated, THEN it makes sense to make more people, or even everyone, eligible, in order to fill up those appointments for the available supply. That’s certainly not an issue in King County, which has a very high vaccine adoption rate.
    - Curious March 30, 2021 (8:12 pm)
      
      You’ve done more research than I – good for you for tracing that down. I had seen news coverage of Eastern Washington locations having openings. Didn’t think about lower adoption rates in other states. I hope the federal distribution gets increased access to the general population later this month. I’m all for the most vulnerable being front of line, but if younger folks don’t get vaccinated soon we’re going to have the current surge continue.

Kim March 29, 2021 (5:28 pm)

Stupid that they planned to take this testing site out of west Seattle, what was wrong with their brain 🧠 in saying this in the first place? There needs to be a permanent Covid testing spot throughout the each neighborhood that is free and opened every day!

WSB March 29, 2021 (9:14 pm)

There is one even without this – the Don Armeni Curative kiosk. Testing is also available at Neighborcare High Point.

ACG March 29, 2021 (5:42 pm)

I’m glad they are keeping it open. Especially with Easter and spring break coming up. That area is so large, they could still add more vaccination space if they want to expand that as supply increases.

waikikigirl March 29, 2021 (5:49 pm)

I hope they’re still vaccinating…my 2nd dose is this Wednesday. :>)

flimflam March 29, 2021 (8:18 pm)

I’ve had a hard time finding any quotes, exact info on why Inslee decided indoor dining was so safe, especially since he allowed it to 50% rather quickly. I know there are general comments like “we’re trending in the right direction, vaccines” but restaurant workers are being insulted and put in danger over some hopes and wishes it feels.

Justme March 29, 2021 (9:09 pm)

Flimflam; agreed! I’ve heard several restaurant workers say just that, especially since they still don’t qualify for a vaccine. That doesn’t make sense to me.
rb March 30, 2021 (12:46 am)

I am failing to understand how dining out is even a topic of interest. Anyone can explain it to me without insulting? I could think of a dozen other categories that are much more essential to sustaining our society than eating out. Judges and lawyers? Delivery personnel? Postal workers? Janitors and cleaners, Real estate workers? And so on. Sadly, I think our state can now afford to shuffle vaccines based on politics, rather than actual necessities. Based on this, I am in favor of opening it up to any willing person. While not everyone will get it at once, it would be given at a much, much higher rate, with no leftovers. Some people would even be willing to drive to those places outside of King County where they just can’t fill their appointments. Ans the more shots are given (regardless of wh gets it) the more our society as a whole will benefit form it (even restaurant workers and older citizens). There is a wisdom in accelerating vaccination eligibility. it’s not just politics.

JayJay March 30, 2021 (6:40 am)

I’m so glad that the powers that be were willing to change their collective mind and keep testing at the Thistle location. It is heartbreaking that cases are back on the rise, but testing is so vital. I hope that the City/County continue to reevaluate as the process goes forward and remain open to continued testing past the April 17 date.

Stickerbush March 30, 2021 (8:03 am)

@RB Restaurants are an important segment of the economy. I haven’t talked to any restaurant workers or owners, have you? I would be curious about how they felt about going back to work. Politics is always a part of any decision and the science around this is subjective, a matter of balancing risks.

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