Strict limits for coronavirus testing in Tri-Cities. No drive-up option

All Tri-City-area hospitals and their clinics continue to limit testing for the novel coronavirus as the materials needed to perform the tests are in short supply.

The current priority for testing is people with the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 and those at highest risk from the illness, according to a joint statement from the Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and Prosser hospitals and the Benton-Franklin Health District.

Only doctors and other medical providers can order the tests, and patients should telephone to make arrangements before going to a clinic or emergency room to prevent infecting other patients there.

It testing is ordered, samples are collected from a patient and then covered with a solution to protect and maintain any coronavirus as the sample is shipped to a lab for testing, often across the country. The solution for the sample is among the materials in short supply.

Although Tri-Cities commercial laboratories are accepting the collected samples for testing, they have to be sent out of the Tri-Cities for the actual testing.

Results can take five to seven days and are sent to the medical provider and any positive results are reported to the Washington state Department of Health.

The local health district is not actively tracking down test results to determine how many results are negative, but has had about 130 negative test results reported to it so far.

Benton-Franklin Health District report five new cases on Saturday, bringing the total to eight cases in Benton County and two in Franklin County. In addition a previously reported positive case has resulted in the death of a man in his 70s.

The new cases are all in Benton County, including a woman in her 70s and two men in their 80s, all of whom are hospitalized. A woman in her 60s and a man in his 50s are recovering at home.

There have been three deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Benton County, including a case of a man who did not have a positive test, but was in close contact with a patient There have been no deaths in Franklin County.

Testing a national issue

“We continue to push for increased supplies of the needed materials to move widely collect samples from patients for testing,” the hospitals said in their statement.

However, the equipment to collect and save samples and some of the supplies needed to perform the tests are in short supply nationwide.

On Friday three large U.S. medical groups made a similar recommendation to the one already being used in the Tri-Cities because of the lack of testing supplies and capacity.

Testing should be limited to health care workers with COVID-19 symptoms, seniors with symptoms and people with illnesses whose course of treatment would be different if they had a positive test result.

The recommendation was made by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Association of Public Health Laboratories and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists.

In Washington state, testing equipment has been prioritized for the counties in Western Washington, where the majority of cases and deaths have occurred, said Dr. Amy Person, health officer for the local health district, at a district board meeting.

Statewide, about 23,000 people have been tested, according to information compiled by the Washington state Department of Health, with 93 percent of the tests negative.

More than 1,500 people have tested positive, with more than 1,000 of them in King and Snohomish counties.

State officials announced late last week that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had delivered 8,000 additional sample collection kits to the state. They were being distributed in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

They will be used to test elderly people, those with pre-existing health conditions and health care providers and first responders caring for people who have or are suspected of having COVID-19.

Kadlec tent

Some people approved for testing in the Tri-Cities, may be sent to a tent.

Kadlec Regional Medical Center has set up a tent at Kadlec Urgent Care at 4804 W. Clearwater Ave. in Kennewick for testing 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

However, contrary to rumor, it is not a drive-up testing location.

Patients must have an order from a Kadlec provider at either its emergency rooms or its clinics across the Tri-Cities.

Patients may be met at the door of clinics or be interviewed over the telephone or by video chat to be evaluated for a COVID-19 test and then sent to the tent, helping to reduce exposure to patients and caregivers.

It helps maintain a clean environment in clinics, which continue to treat patients with other illnesses and injuries.

The tent has full electronic capabilities to access and update patient records.

Patients typically have two swabs taken. One is a rapid-flu test, because symptoms are similar. They may wait in their car in the parking lot for results.

If the test is negative, a second sample is collected for COVID-19 testing.

Patients are sent home to self-quarantine with an oximeter to measure their oxygen levels and a thermometer while they wait for test results.

Using the tent also reduces the number of care providers who must wear masks and gowns.

Supplies of protective gear for medical workers is running short statewide.

The state Department of Health requested more supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile on March 13, but the request had not been approved late last week.

The request included about 63,000 N-95 respirators, a type of fitted mask; about 155,000 surgical masks and about 24,000 gowns.

The Strategic National Stockpile has delivered two earlier orders of protective equipment for health care workers in Washington state.

The Walla Walla Veterans Administration campus also has set up a tent.

It is being used to screen all patients for symptoms of COVID-19 before they enter the clinical buildings on the campus, including buildings for eye, hearing and dental appointments.

The campus also has been closed to children 12 and younger.

If you are sick

The local health district and four hospitals in Benton and Franklin hospitals say they know that the limited availability of testing may cause concerns.

People who are mildly sick with what could be COVID-19 should stay home and treat their symptoms, they said. If the symptoms worsen, call a medical provider for advice.

“Tests need to be reserved for the sickest, high risk patients and medical professionals,” the health district and hospitals said. “A trip to the clinic or hospital could spread exposure.”

People with mild symptoms should not be going to work or using public transportation. They should treat symptoms with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications, if needed.

They should stay in a room separate from other family members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.

Mild symptoms may include a runny nose and coughing. Some people also have some brief intestinal issues.

People who start to have difficulty breathing or other symptoms that worsen should seek medical attention promptly.

Heather Hill, communicable disease supervisor for the Benton Franklin Health District, said in an interview with Kadlec that the illness can turn serious for elderly people or people with underlying health conditions, such as lung or heart disease, when they develop a fever of 101 or higher.

At this point in the pandemic it does not look possible to stop the spread of the infection entirely, said Dr. Amy Person, health officer for the Benton Franklin Health District at the board meeting.

The objective is to slow down the rate of infection so the health care system does not become overwhelmed and can continue to treat both COVID-19 and other seriously ill patients, she said.

Washington state is emphasizing social distancing to slow the spread, with people asked to remain at home as much as possible and to maintain a six-foot distance from others if they leave their home.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 1:18 PM.