Seattle Children's Hospital unable to give COVID tests due to critical shortages
SEATTLE - Seattle Children’s Hospital is temporarily unable to offer COVID-19 tests due to supply and staff shortages.
The hospital is ordinarily able to provide COVID tests for patients in the Emergency Department or Urgent Care, but a critical shortage of tests has forced them to nix the option for now, except for patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
It is unknown how long the hospital’s shortage will last, but this is not the only pressure health care centers are facing around the state.
The Washington State Hospital Association on Friday said hospitals are in their "worst situation" since the pandemic began – with non-urgent procedures on hold, hospitals straining capacity and a shortage in supplies.
RELATED: Washington hospitals in 'worst situation' yet since COVID-19 pandemic started: WSHA
READ MORE: UW Medicine sees record-number of COVID patients in its hospitals
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