Participants must book appointments for testing online or by phone. A healthcare provider visit and health insurance are not required to access testing. Results are typically available within 48 hours.
Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Gib Morrow said the new site provides an additional low-barrier COVID-19 testing option to expand on services already offered by clinics and pharmacies in the community.
“To overcome this pandemic, we need to make COVID-19 testing readily available to every Kitsap County resident who needs it. The opening of this drive-through site marks a big step toward accomplishing that goal,” Dr. Morrow said.
“By identifying COVID-19 cases quickly, we can help people take steps to avoid spreading the virus to others. This will prevent more illness and deaths, and keep our county on the path to recovery.”
Staff and volunteers work out of a mobile command unit that will allow the testing site to be redeployed at other locations in the county. The Pendergast Regional Park site is intended to be the first location offered through a broader Kitsap County Community COVID-19 Testing Program aimed at improving access to testing countywide, in cooperation with partner organizations.
In appreciation of those staffing the Pendergast testing site, Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management Director Lis Klute stated, "We couldn't be where we are now without our exceptional volunteers, nor could we get to where we are going without them."
Kitsap County allocated Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to support the new testing program.
The City of Bainbridge Island is also finalizing plans to open a drive-thru testing site that is expected to open Nov. 2. The city’s website will be updated as soon as more information about scheduling appointments is available.
When is the Pendergast Regional Park testing site open?
The site is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, beginning Oct. 26.
How do I register for testing?
An appointment is required for testing. You can register online. If you need assistance registering, call Kitsap Public Health at 360-728-2235, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.