Yakima Valley Memorial and Yakima Valley College are pleased to announce that the free community COVID-19 testing site at YVC’s Yakima Campus will remain open through June 30, 2022, after partner, the University of Washington, extended its contract. The UW provides funding and does the laboratory test work for the site.
COVID-19 testing is more important than ever with the new Omicron variant now detected in the U.S. and winter approaching — which is typically the worst season for respiratory diseases.
The partnership with the University of Washington, SignalHealth and Yakima Valley College, allows us to keep this crucial testing site open. Yakima is considered a COVID-19 hot spot, with only 52% of county residents fully vaccinated. “COVID is not going away and the need for free and easily accessible community testing in Yakima is greater than ever,” says Michael Vachon, test site supervisor.
COVID-19 testing is open to anyone with symptoms, or anyone who has been exposed or is concerned about exposure. Tests can be performed on infants as young as 3 months and results are available from one to three days after testing.
The YVC site is a walk-up clinic, where you park and walk up to the test site, located at 810 S. 14th Ave., in a parking lot on the north side of the college. For those unable to leave their vehicles, there are ADA parking signs in the patient parking lot with the phone number to the test trailer. When called, volunteers will come out to cars to do the test. COVID-19 testing is available Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Note: Site will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1)
Appointments are strongly encourage, but can accommodate walk-ins. You can pre-register at https://www.wacovid19.org/yakimatesting/. The test is free of charge and open to everyone, with or without identification. If you do not have ID or do not wish to provide it, site staff will still test you.
Spanish-speaking staff are available for translation.
For additional testing sites, please go to: www.YakimaTesting.org (in Spanish, it is www.YakimaPruebas.org). Individuals can also call 2-1-1 for a testing location near them.