OKANOGAN COUNTY, Wash. — Okanogan County Public Health is offering free COVID-19 testing to county residents from August 13 through the end of the month with the help of the Washington National Guard.
The public health department initially requested the help of the national guard to help expand their testing capacity across the county, according to a release from the department.
Randy Robbins, an Okanogan County resident and Physician Assistant, will be overseeing medical staff conducting sample collection, according to the release.
"Having the assistance of the Washington National Guard will reduce the burden on local hospitals and health systems," the release reads.
There will be one testing location available six days a week on a rotating schedule. Specific locations, days and times of testing will be released as soon as they're finalized. Testing sites will include the following locations:
- North County – Oroville/Tonasket
- Methow Valley – Winthrop/Twisp
- South County – Brewster
- Central County – Omak
- Colville Reservation – Nespelem
- Southeast County – Coulee Dam
The public health department said testing is free, voluntary and confidential.
Okanogan County has 861 coronavirus cases according to the Washington State Department of Health.
Recently, the public health department warned residents that anyone who attended a two-day camping event in late July may have been exposed to the coronavirus. There were over 100 people in attendance.
