COVID Testing Options in The Dalles
As the Delta variant surge continues, at home COVID-19 tests are selling out within an hour in local stores, and wait times for testing at health clinics can run from several days to a week.
However, two free drive-through testing clinics will be offered at North Central Public Health District this Sunday, Aug. 29 and next Sunday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Registration is preferred, at https://doineedacovid19test.com/ but walk-ins are accepted. People should be able to make appointments online by the end of the business day on Thursday. The health district is located at 419 E. 7th St. in The Dalles.
Here is a list of testing options locally. All tests are free to the public, though some entities may bill your insurance if you have it:
North Central Public Health District tests anyone who has had an exposure or has symptoms. (No pre-travel testing.) Testing is done Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Call 541-506-2600 to book. Appointments currently are 2 days out.
One Community Health tests its current patients, as well as Tribal members, seasonal workers and those without insurance or a health provider. They are currently booked into next week. Call 541-296-4610
Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s clinics offer tests to their current patients who have had an exposure or symptoms. No pre-travel testing. Wait time is 1-2 days. Patients need a doctor’s order for tests, which are done at a drive-through behind the Medical Office Building by the hospital. Patients without a healthcare provider can be seen at MCMC’s Immediate Care Clinic. People are asked not to go to the emergency room for testing unless they are short of breath or have difficulty breathing, chest pain or have other serious symptoms.
Walgreen’s schedules rapid testing (24-hour turnaround) and PCR testing (3-7 day turnaround, useable for travel purposes) online at https://www.walgreens.com/ or at the Walgreen’s app. The store in The Dalles is not doing rapid tests currently due to lack of supplies. It will start taking PCR appointments Wednesday. They also sell at-home tests in the store, but they sell out quickly.
Safeway, Fred Meyer, Bi-Mart and Rite-Aid do not offer testing. All but Safeway sell at-home tests but they sell out quickly. Fred Meyer gets shipments Mondays and Fridays and they sell out within an hour.
(For more information, please visit COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon, contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600, visit us on the web at www.ncphd.org or find us on Facebook.)