NEWPORT – Because of an increase in the demand for Covid-19 testing, Samaritan Health Services has started requiring appointments for its drive-through testing sites in Newport and Lincoln City.
The sites are in the parking lots at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport and Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City.
The two sites have been averaging 200 tests a day, hospital officials said, and are expected to increase even more later this month. Samaritan said the demand for tests has more than doubled since Christmas as the omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has swept into Oregon.
“Moving to appointments only will help regulate the traffic flow and reduce wait times in line,” Samaritan officials said in a statement. “Also when patients are booking their appointment online, they are filling out the necessary information to pre-register, which will streamline the on-site check-in process.”
People wanting to schedule a test should go to www.samhealth.org/COVIDTesting for more information, hours of operation and to schedule a test. People without access to the internet can call toll free 844-469-2427.
Samaritan’s drive-up COVID-19 testing sites offer PCR tests. Results typically take one to three days and are delivered through its MyChart patient portal or via an automated phone message.
Other testing options include home test kits, which can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies or stores. Home test kits are appropriate if people are experiencing symptoms that don’t require medical attention or have no symptoms but think you were exposed to someone with COVID-19. If there are no symptoms, people should wait three to five days after the potential exposure to perform the home test.
