Press Release
Public Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kittitas County COVID-19 Update – Additional Resources Available

Kittitas County, WA - 01/28/2022 - With continuing changes in response to COVID-19, the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) would like to remind individuals of additional resources and resources around testing. KCPHD would also like to thank Kittitas Valley Healthcare (KVH) for their tremendous response efforts and their continued care of patients during this time. The KVH testing site was open to the general public for 691 days and performed 44,445 tests through this service.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) maintains a list of testing locations via www.doh.wa.gov. Numerous pharmacies and additional medical facilities are available for testing. Free test kits are available via www.covidtests.gov.  Insurance coverage also provides coverage for testing and more information is available at How to get your At-Home Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Test for Free | CMS.
 
If you are unable to access a test and you have symptoms of COVID-19, please follow guidance, and stay home. The latest guidance is available via DOH at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations.
 
KVH was unexpectedly notified late on January 25th that their testing supply was gone.  KVH is being allocated 100 tests per week with an average demand of 600 tests per week.  KVH, therefore, needs to prioritize testing for patient care.
  
“Everyone at the Kittitas County Public Health Department is incredibly thankful for Kittitas Valley Healthcare’s response,” states Director Tristen Lamb.  “Our small county has had efficiency and access unlike others because KVH stepped in to help. KVH has not only provided 44,445 tests, but they led the vaccination efforts and coordinated hundreds of volunteers in addition to their primary duties of hospital care for patients during a pandemic.”
 
Additional COVID-19 resources include vaccine information, vaccine verification, and data via DOH.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on when to seek emergency care at Symptoms of COVID-19 | CDC and a data tracker that provides county level community transmission information at CDC COVID Data Tracker.
 
With response changes, we still ask that individuals help by completing the following:
 

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Get tested if you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19.
• If you are unable to test, please stay home and follow COVID-19 guidelines.
• Wear a proper face covering.
• Be aware of who is most at risk of COVID-19.
• Get a COVID-19 vaccination if you are 5 years of age and older.
• Get a COVID-19 booster if you are 12 years of age and older.

• Kittitas County COVID-19 Update – Additional Resources Available.pdf
• Kittitas County COVID-19 Update Additional Resources Available_Spanish_.pdf

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Contact: Kittitas County COVID-19 Update – Additional Resources Available

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