Washington County out of COVID-19 test kits

Washington County Public Health announced that it was out of take-home COVID-19 test kits in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon.

Washington County Public Health interim Director Chris Estle, who directs the same department in Jefferson County, said demand for test kits had risen with statewide positivity levels in recent weeks but that the problem may fall on state supply lines rather than local demand.

“Both Jefferson and Washington ordered kits last week, and we haven’t received them yet,” she said. “Schools can request test kits as well, universities can request test kits, as can individuals directly to their home. There could have been an increased demand.”

The department began supplying the tests free of charge after state officials closed all Test Iowa sites in mid-July.

While COVID-19 tests are still available at other locations, including Washington County Hospitals and Clinics, in-clinic tests are not free. A representative from WCHC said COVID-19 testing through the hospital cost $125.

Estle said she expected to have the testing kits restocked within a day, with shipments on their way to both counties. While the state limits test kit orders to no more than 50 per day, Estle did not suspect either county department was going through more than that many on average.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the department had not announced receiving additional kits.

In the meantime, any Iowa resident is eligible to order a free take home test kit directly from the state lab at TestIowa.com.