High-volume COVID-19 Testing Site Added at BC

From the Public Health – Seattle & King County press release

Public Health – Seattle & King County announced a new testing site at Bellevue College will open Tuesday, Dec. 15, expanding efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in east King County and along the I-90 corridor. This will be the first free, high-capacity COVID-19 test site on the Eastside. This site will be free and open to anyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

If you have COVID-like symptoms or have had close contact with someone with COVID-19, Public Health – Seattle & King County urges you to avoid contact with others and get tested immediately. Stay home and away from others while you are waiting for test results.

“The new site at Bellevue College will be a valuable resource for our diverse community, especially as we work together to minimize and ultimately overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson. “I want to thank Public Heath – Seattle & King County, Bellevue College and operator International Community Health Services (ICHS) for their partnership, making this test site a reality.”

“As cases continue to spike in our state and all across America, expanding access to COVID-19 testing is critical to ensuring the health of our diverse community,” said Gary Locke, interim president of Bellevue College. “We’re proud to partner with Public Health – Seattle & King County to be their first testing site on the Eastside. And we can’t forget to thank all our healthcare workers on the front lines for their heroic efforts.” 

The test site will be operated by International Community Health Services (ICHS) and hosted by Bellevue College, with support from King County and the City of Bellevue.

Drivers should use the entrance on 148th Avenue and follow the signs. Drive-thru and limited walk-up testing is available. The test site is available via the 221, 226, 245, and 271 bus lines.

Beginning Tuesday, December 15, the test site will be open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. People are strongly encouraged, but not required, to register for a testing appointment. King County has information on all free test sites in the county.

Help with registration in multiple languages

If you need help with registration for the Bellevue College location, call the King County COVID-19 Call Center (open 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.), at 206-477-3977. If you need in-language assistance, please tell us in English the language you need. We will then connect you with an interpreter.

Support for isolation and quarantine

Anyone who tests positive should isolate immediately. For those without a safe place to do so, King County isolation and quarantine sites are available. Call the King County COVID-19 Call Center (206-477-3977) to see if isolation and quarantine services are right for you.