Pierce County Testing Sites Struggle To Handle Surging Demand

PUYALLUP, WA — The growing prevalence of the omicron variant, a new wave of COVID-19 infections, and concerns about holiday transmission have all come together to spur a massive demand for COVID-19 testing— a demand that local health leaders are working overtime to meet.

Despite the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department expanding testing efforts to include a new, full-time testing location at the State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, demand remains high. Midday Monday, the county confirmed that it had begun to turn away visitors from the Lakewood testing site, and that the wait time at the fairgrounds had swelled to three hours or more.

While both testing sites will be up and running again Tuesday, the county and health department are asking residents to consider other testing options if they want to avoid long backups and wait times.

Here are a few other places you can find a COVID-19 test in Pierce County:

• At your local library. The Pierce County Library system offers free take home COVID-19 tests during business hours. The tests are not rapid, but can be taken in the privacy of your own home and submitted for testing through UPS.
• Through the mail. The Greater Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network Study, or SCAN, will mail take home tests to select, qualifying residents. Tests should be delivered within a day, and results will arrive within 48 hours. Learn more about SCAN here.
• At the local mall. The Tacoma Mall and South Hill Mall both have walk-up testing available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• At local pharmacies. Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Kirk's Pharmacy all offer tests with appointment.

>> Find more testing options from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.