CORONAVIRUS: Another West Seattle COVID-testing site shuts down

Two months shy of two years after its opening, the Curative COVID-testing trailer at Don Armeni Boat Ramp has closed. We asked about its status after noticing it was no longer listed on the company’s webmap, though the trailer was still on site when we checked this morning. Curative spokesperson Pasquale Gianni tells WSB the company expects to close all its COVID-testing sites by the end of the year, unless “an unexpected demand for testing services” arises. (Gianni adds that the company is pivoting to another health-care venture, involving “a new approach to employer-based health insurance” that it’s launching in Austin, Texas.) For a while, Curative also had a testing van on the Summit Atlas campus in Arbor Heights, but closed that one in May.

With the Don Armeni Curative closure, one major testing site remains in West Seattle, in the parking lot of Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). UW Medicine operates that one in partnership with the city. We checked on its status; UW Medicine spokesperson Leila Gray tells WSB, “The site is likely to close when the Federal Public Health Emergency Declaration expires. This is the official declaration of the COVID pandemic’s status as a national public health emergency. This Federal Emergency Declaration was last renewed October 13, 2022, as announced by U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, and it would expire in about 3 months unless renewed.” So for now, that site remains in operation until further notice.

Also of note: The state Health Department is still offering free home-testing kits through at least the end of the year; this reminder last week explains how to get them.

ADDED TUESDAY: A commenter pointed out last night that the free-tests website says they’ve run out. We checked with the Health Department this morning; a spokesperson replied that they’re indeed out right now but: “We are working with our vendor to get a new supply, possibly as early as this week.”

15 Replies to "CORONAVIRUS: Another West Seattle COVID-testing site shuts down"

  • S November 28, 2022 (10:18 pm)

    Just FYI the free home-testing kits are no longer available, at least for the 98106 zip code. 

  • WSB November 28, 2022 (10:43 pm)

    Interesting, same result for all WS zip codes. I’ll ask DOH tomorrow if that’s expected to change any time soon or if they’re done for the year.

  • Karena November 29, 2022 (12:00 am)

    Most insurance will pay for 8 tests at your pharmacy. Just need to asked the pharmacy staff. Please understand that it has to be processed at a prescription so it does take time.

  • Karenr November 29, 2022 (8:39 am)

    I picked up some free one at the Library on 35th.

  • Brian November 29, 2022 (8:51 am)

    You can’t have a surge in positive cases if you don’t test for them. It’s a very simple way of defeating the pandemic: Just Don’t Look, Just Don’t Look.   

    • G November 29, 2022 (10:28 am)

      Just like all the home tests that have been sent out that aren’t added to the official count. Such a brilliant way to hide the pandemic away. Don’t test and we won’t have cases. 

    • Wseattleite November 29, 2022 (6:02 pm)

      What a nefarious plot!  The government must be behind this!  Or maybe some reason is being applied to the latest popular panic button. 

    • Smoosh November 29, 2022 (8:58 pm)

      Positive cases don’t matter.  Hospitalizations and deaths do. Most flu is never counted either.  We maybe had a chance to defeat endemicity very early on and it didn’t happen. 

      • Brian November 30, 2022 (10:08 am)

        Seems like a pretty shortsighted plan to just wait for people to show up at the hospital and/or die. Maybe we should look at leading indicators like test positivity rates so we can head that sort of thing off before it occurs. But I guess that makes way too much sense.    

  • Chuck Jacobs November 29, 2022 (8:51 am)

    I was paying cash for my test kits when I had covid last month. Bartell’s sells them for $10 each.  When I went to  Safeway,  they were changing $40. I think they’re primarily billing insurance. 

  • AR November 29, 2022 (9:11 am)

    I think the free tests from the state will become available around Dec 1/end of this week. How the program worked was when the monthly supply was exhausted by requests, a new allotment was made available at the beginning of the following month (although this will end the end of this year).

  • Keith November 29, 2022 (9:44 am)

    Well hopefully this is another positive sign of where things are heading with the pandemic. I really appreciated having this location available, always super fast and easy to get a reliable test, friendly staff too.

  • WSB November 29, 2022 (9:51 am)

    Regarding the home tests, DOH did confirm to us this morning that they’re out now but hoping to get more soon, so check back with their site. (Updating above as well)

  • Patience December 1, 2022 (7:25 am)

    Success!  I just ordered a pack for our 98106 household and one pack for a neighbor.  When I tried on 11/29, they were not available.

  • Aaron Bly December 1, 2022 (6:59 pm)

    Ordered today no problem. 98106

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