A new drive-thru testing site is slated to open outside the Army National Guard Base in Bremerton, as Kitsap’s emergency officials work to expand COVID-19 testing for essential workers and vulnerable residents.

The new site, which officials say may open early this week, will have around 160 test appointments per day. However, those won’t be available for all residents.

The free tests are designated for those experiencing symptoms — including cough, fever and shortness of breath — and prioritized for certain categories of people. That includes health care workers, first responders and those working at grocery stores, child care facilities and other “critical infrastructure.” Highly vulnerable populations, such as residents over 65 and people with underlying health issues, will also have access.

“Anybody with symptoms in the priority rankings we want to ensure they get those tests,” said Malynda Green, an emergency management specialist at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard who is managing the new testing site. “It's important for us to reach out to our community and make sure we get this up and going.”

Green says Kitsap’s drive-thru site will likely open early this week, though there is no definitive timeline. Over the weekend, local officials were still receiving supply shipments and waiting for federal officials to land on the ground.

What happens when the site opens?

Once the site opens, residents will be able to register for an appointment online, which includes screening questions to determine whether someone is eligible. The registration process will go online shortly before the site opens.

The site is among only a handful of government-run drive-thru testing facilities established in the state. A similar site will open in Yakima this week; drive-thru testing sites were set up last month at the Tacoma Dome and in Everett.

Across the Puget Sound, hospital and health care clinics have also set up similar testing sites. Several Seattle hospitals offer drive-thru testing, though some are limited to employees or specific kinds of patients. CHI Franciscan has several triage centers that screen and test patients in Kitsap County.

Established by the Kitsap County’s Emergency Operations Center, the new site is supplied with test kits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federal officials will oversee the site for the first week, at which point local officials will take over control.

“We are extremely grateful that the feds and the state have agreed to give us these resources,” said Elizabeth Klute, director of the Kitsap’s Department of Emergency Management.

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While testing remains limited nationwide, Klute says the drive-thru site expands testing capacity in Kitsap, even though it's reserved for a narrow group. “It's really focused right now on the people who are symptomatic and saying 'Do you have the regular flu, do you have a cold, is it COPD or is it coronavirus?'” she said.

On Sunday, local officials outlined the testing process amid a bustle of activity. National Guard soldiers in fatigues hoisted up tents. County workers and law enforcement discussed plans over walkie-talkies. Emergency volunteers rushed about the site in green vests.

The coronavirus testing process

As Green explained, cars will line up at the testing site, check-in and pull ahead under a tent, where people will undergo a nasal swab. All the while, they will remain in their vehicle with the windows rolled up. Medical staff from the local groups, including the West Sound Free Clinic and Empact Northwest, will conduct testing wearing protective gear.

The drive-thru site will provide a more streamlined and safe testing process, officials said. They expect workers will collect around eight samples every 15 minutes. Those samples will be sent to private lab, which local officials expect will produce results in two to six days.

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The new testing site comes after Kitsap’s emergency response team established two isolation and quarantine facilities to house people who tested positive COVID-19 or are awaiting results.

The two centers, which are located at Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard and the Seabeck Conference Center, are at the ready for residents who can’t self-isolate on their own, such as homeless individuals, health care workers or first responders who live with family.

Austen Macalus is the Kitsap Sun's social services reporter — covering health care, homelessness and how programs are serving those in need. He can be reached at austen.macalus@kitsapsun.com or 360-536-6423.

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