Beware of 'unusual' Covid-testing operations, King County health officials warn

Local health officials are warning folks to avoid suspicious Covid testing operations during a time rife with fraud.

Public Health — Seattle & King County says the department was alerted about questionable testing sites in Seattle and door-to-door solicitors in Auburn falsely claiming to be offering Covid tests on behalf of government agencies.

Public Health says the testing sites in question, operated by a business called Community Wellness America, have been reported in Capitol Hill, Ballard, Gas Works Park, and Green Lake Park.

The department reports that people operating the testing sites have been observed falsely claiming to be with "public health," not using proper personal protective equipment, collecting personal information in an insecure manner, and advertising the testing as "free" but mentioning potential billing in paperwork.

Officials say no positive test results from the Community Wellness America sites have been forwarded to Public Health — Seattle & King, and caution that the sites could be reporting inaccurate results to patients.

Public health says it has filed formal complaints about the matter with the Washington State Department of Health and the consumer division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.