Where to get a free 24-48 hour Covid test in Seattle
If you live in, work in, or visit Seattle, you’re eligible to get free testing from the City of Seattle. Due to a partnership with the county and the University of Washington, you can get tested at one of two drive in locations, by appointment, for free.
How to Register
According to the city of Seattle, anyone can get registered to get tested. From the city’s website:
If you attended large gatherings, you MAY have been exposed. You are strongly urged to get tested for COVID-19 if you develop ANY symptoms. Taking proactive steps to protect your health, such as wearing a mask, avoiding physical contact, and regularly washing your hands, can cut down on your risks of contracting the virus, even in large gatherings.
COVID-19 symptoms include:
- fever or chills
- cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fatigue
- muscle or body aches
- headache
- new loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- congestion or runny nose
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
In order to get tested, you need only a photo ID with your birthday. It does not matter what country you’re a citizen or resident of, anyone in the county is eligible to get tested. If you have insurance, bring your card. The insurance company will bill UW Medicine, and you don’t get a bill. You do NOT need insurance to schedule a test.
Where are the tests?
The city of Seattle has two old vehicle emission locations that they don’t use anymore, so what better location to do drive through testing than somewhere that’s literally set up for a drive through?
There one location up north on Aurora Ave (12040 Aurora Ave N, Seattle WA 98133) and another in Sodo (3820 6th Ave South, Seattle WA 98108). Both locations are open Monday-Saturday from 930-530pm.
How fast are the results?
Once you take the test, you’ll get a QR code. Scan the QR code and it’ll direct you straight to the UW website. Results form the University of Washington say that results will typically be available in 24-48 hours, but in some cases, it might even be faster.
Bottom Line
Look – we all need to get tested for Covid-19. It’s not only the smart thing to do, but it’s responsible as well. Just in the past couple of days, a famous restaurant here on Alki Beach in Seattle was shut down because of a coronavirus outbreak. They weren’t following the rules, and sure enough, this is the shit that happens when you think you’re invincible. It’s great that you can get tested, even if you don’t live in Seattle!
Sign up and get tested, y’all!
July 11, 2020
Hi Jon,
thanks for the info. I am absolute with you. We all need to get tested, but there is a big issue with the whole testing.
People can get tested today, and catch it tomorrow. The result could come on the same day or later and people think they are virus-free (tested negative). Therefore people will take it easier with close contact with the family.
Testing is great, but we need to have continuous testing for everyone. As it spreads, you can be infected at any given moment. Heck, even very very unlikely, but you could even get infected at the testing site. There is no 100% guarantee for anything.
That’s just my two cents. I am all for testing and quarantine. Heck, if we would do quarantine stricter, or had done it so, we would probably be standing way better right now. But this is a free country, too free sometimes. Well, I don’t want to get political. Great resource anyway. I just hope there will be a vaccine shortly.
It’s also great what Seattle is doing and providing this service. For me, it was weird in the beginning to test only people, who were most likely infected because they showed all the symptoms. Why not just treat, well isolate them, if it’s a false positive no problem. We basically wasted the very limited tests at the beginning on positive patients, which most likely could have been identified without tests. But to stop the spread we need to test the other group with mild symptoms and who are asymptomatic.
Same with the mask-lie at the beginning of the pandemic. Three letter organizations and governments told you to not wear facemasks because they don’t protect you. In the same announcement, however, they state that health workers need these supplies. I know it was a lie to stop people from rushing to buying up all the stock which were desperately needed in hospitals. But did they really believe that would stick 😉 I mean who believed that anyway?
I hope you guys stay safe and healthy and hope to meet everyone again soon in the friendly skies. Let’s do all our part, do social distancing, wear face masks and coverings, and limit contact. I know it’s summertime, we all want to go out and have a good time but it’s time to skip this year. I am very surprised by how well Seattle and Washington State are doing. keep it up, guys.
July 11, 2020
Thanks Peter! So long as we have plenty of tests available in Seattle I think it’s the right thing to do to get tested frequently. I’m with ya!