MISSION â Around midday on Thursday, Dec. 3, more than 25 vehicles sat in front of Wildhorse Resort & Casino, waiting to receive a free COVID-19 test supplied by Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center and the Oregon Health Authority.
Cars approached a large white tent where health officials, donning light-blue protective gear, face masks and gloves, handed passengers a kit with a cotton swab and instructions for self-testing. Participants were advised to take the brush, swab an inch into their nostril five times, and then insert the swab into a testing reagent before handing it back to a health official.
After about six hours, officials had successfully tested 447 people, most of whom were Wildhorse staff and members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Results came back two days later and showed seven positive tests, according to Carrie Sampson-Samuels, the community wellness director for Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.