Free coronavirus testing coming to Columbia Falls

Flathead Community Health Center will set up a free coronavirus testing location in Columbia Falls near the Chamber of Commerce Building on 13th St East across from Marantette Park.

The hope is to run the clinic Wednesdays from 1 to 6 p.m. through the summer season. The first clinic is July 8.

The free testing is for people who are asympomatic, which means they do not have symptoms of the disease. People with symptoms should go to a regular healthcare facility, which will have test results much faster.

This test is designed for frontline workers — those that come into frequent contact with the public like bartenders, grocer store clerks and waiters, though anyone can get a test.

Test results take about 10 days to get back and it’s self administered, which means the person gives themselves the test.

Demand for the tests has been high, said director Mary Sterhan — Whitefish ran out of tests recently.

There are also clinics in West Glacier, Whitefish and Bigfork. West Glacier is Tuesdays from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to noon just off the Going-to-the-Sun Road; Whitefish is Thursdays from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Whitefish High School parking lot and Bigfork is Tuesdays from 1 to 6 p.m. at Park Side Credit Union.

To keep up-to-date on clinics, visit the Flathead Community Health website at: https://www.facebook.com/FlatheadCHC/