||| BY LIN MCNULTY, EDITOR |||
Orcas Family Health rolled out Orcas Island’s first mobile rapid COVID testing at the Olga artworks on Monday. With results available in 15 minutes, 32 tests were conducted in two hours.
Testing was done by OIHC nurses Shila Wachtel and Valentina Rivera, as well as volunteer Alan Stameisen.”I think it was a huge success,” Dr. David Shinstrom noted.
Mobile testing will continue at:
- Olga Artworks on Mondays from 8-10 a.m.
- West Sound Yacht Club beginning this Sunday from 12-2 p.m.
- Starting on January 7, Thursdays at the Senior Center from 4-8 p.m.
The test is free if you have no insurance, or if you have insurance, they will bill for you.
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Orcas Family Health continues to impress me. So small and yet reaches so far. Dr Shinstrom seems to be a visionary Dr..
Thank You for this. Clyde Duke.
This is an awesome service. And long overdue. But as we face the holidays, please be aware that a negative covid test is not a “get out of jail” card to spend them with groups of people. A negative test can mean no virus…or a low viral load and you are still contagious. Here’s a good article about this from the LA Times.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-22/negative-covid-19-test-doesnt-clear-christmas-parties
I sound like such a holiday buzzkill, but I say this with love for our community.
I second what Janet is saying, and you could test negative today and still contract the virus tomorrow, so still continue to mask up, wash/disinfect hands regularly and maintain that 6′ distance. There will be many, many more Christmases to come where we can all get together with loved ones and kiss and hug to our heart’s content. This one, however, requires restraint in order to guarantee those to come. No buzzkill. Just common sense.
So, with a family member arriving tomorrow, Wed., 12/23, only here until Sat, 26th…is there a mobile place for her to get tested?
It doesn’t look like it from the schedule, Margot, but you should probably get tested on Sunday at the yacht club. Incubation period is generally two to three days.
Margot – Perhaps she should get tested before she gets to the island?