There are currently no restrictions for who can be tested for COVID-19 in Washington. The highest priority for testing is still people with symptoms. If you are ill with any of the following symptoms, please seek testing as soon as possible.
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
The exception is if your symptom is clearly attributed to an existing condition and is not unusual for you. For example, people may experience headaches or have limited taste or smell due to existing conditions, so the symptom is not new and they do not necessarily need to be tested for COVID-19.
However, if you do experience one or more of these symptoms and they are not attributed to an existing diagnosis, get tested even if those symptoms are mild. Also, if you are not sure whether something is related to an existing condition or whether it may be a new illness, talk to your medical provider and consider getting tested for COVID-19.
People without symptoms may also need to be tested. There are a number of people who do not have symptoms but should consider testing because they are at higher risk of being asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases. This includes anyone who:
• Is a close contact of a confirmed case
• Lives in a congregate setting, like a shelter, group home or assisted living facility
• Works in a location that has had a case
• Is part of a family or social network that has had a case
• Works in healthcare, EMS, law enforcement or other fields with a higher risk of catching or spreading COVID-19
• Is part of a racial or ethnic group that has been disproportionately impacted by this virus in terms of rate or severity of cases (this includes people who are Black, Latinx, Native American/Alaskan Native, or Pacific Islander)
• Requires testing for employment or travel
• Requires testing prior to a medical procedure.
• People also may be tested in a healthcare setting at the discretion of their medical provider. This could include pregnant women who are going into the hospital for labor and delivery, or people who will be participating in procedures or tests that may generate a cloud of droplets and increase risk of transmitting the virus.
The Snohomish Health District has been operating community-based, drive-thru testing sites with support from the Medical Reserve Corps and others partners. Information on new dates and times for testing, criteria to get testing, and how to register online for an appointment is available at www.snohd.org/testing.
Those who are being tested for COVID-19 are to remain isolated at home while results are pending. Others who live with them but are not ill will only be required to quarantine if the test results are positive.