A COVID-19 test kit. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed state health officials to test all nursing home staff and residents in the coming weeks, according to a state doctor.

Where To Get Masks And Testing In Yakima County As Coronavirus Cases Near 8K

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa
File photo. Gov. Jay Inslee visited Yakima, shown here on June 16, 2020, as the county's coronavirus numbers continued to grow at a rate that suggested it would be hard for it to move beyond Phase 1 of reopening. The Health District then issued a masking directive to encourage more use of face coverings. Courtesy of Governor's Office
Gov. Jay Inslee visited Yakima June 16, 2020, as the county's coronavirus numbers continue to grow at a rate that suggests it will be hard for it to move beyond Phase 1 of reopening. The Health District has issued a masking directive to encourage more use of face coverings. Courtesy of Governor's Office

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Yakima County is on track this week to surpass 8,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

As of Monday, 7,935 people have been infected by coronavirus, and 150 residents have died. Forty-three people are currently hospitalized, according to the Yakima Health District.

To fight the spread, county officials are handing out masks and increasing testing. 

Local health officials estimate about 65% of residents are currently wearing masks. Ideally, that should be about 80%. 

The county’s emergency management office has handed out more than 3 million pieces of protective equipment since March. That includes 770,000 masks to businesses, municipalities, and food banks and an additional 220,000 masks distributed to low-income residents. 

ALSO SEE: Wearing Masks Helps. Here’s Why, And Why You Should

“There’s plenty of (masks) out there for people,” county emergency management operations manager Horace Ward said. “There’s no excuse to not have one and not be wearing one.”

Ward says this week the OEM is getting ready to hand out masks again at the Valley Mall and the Yakama Nation Cultural Center. 

Yakima County residents can pick up masks Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10 in Union Gap and Toppenish from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Thursday, July 9 (Union Gap)

  • Valley Mall Parking, 2529 Main St, Union Gap, WA 98903, in the Sears parking

lot on the corner of E. Valley Mall Blvd and 1st Street.

Friday, July 10 (Toppenish)

  • Yakama Nation Cultural Center, 100 Spil-Yi Loop, Toppenish, WA 98948

Traffic patterns at the distribution sites can be found at this link.

ALSO SEE: Coronavirus News, Updates, Resources From NWPB

“We’re just trying to get them out there into people’s hands,” Ward said. “They don’t do us any good sitting here. Might as well get them to the people to help us reduce the spread here in Yakima County and get into a better position to open further.”

A COVID-19 test kit. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has instructed state health officials to test all nursing home staff and residents in the coming weeks, according to a state doctor.

A COVID-19 test kit. CREDIT: Washington Military Department

The county will also get more COVID testing sites. The National Guard is administering testing five days a week through the end of July. 

Health officials recommend residents seek testing if they have symptoms or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Testing this week began Tuesday and will continue through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday, July 8 – 9

  • Mabton High School, 500 B St. Mabton, WA 98903
  • Roosevelt Elementary, 120 N. 16th Ave. Yakima, WA 98902

Friday and Saturday, July 10 – 11

  • Eisenhower High School, 611 S 44th Ave, Yakima, WA 98908
  • Toppenish Middle School, 104 Goldendale Ave, Toppenish, WA 98948

Testing will continue through the end of July throughout Yakima County at the Yakama Nation Cultural Center, the State Fair Park, Harrison Middle School in Sunnyside and Cottonwood Elementary School in Yakima. For dates, visit Yakima County’s testing site information page. 

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