Governor Kate Brown announced that Oregon has distributed its first Abbott ID NOW rapid testing instruments to rural Oregon hospitals. The first hospitals to receive the COVID-19 rapid testing instruments are Curry General Hospital in Curry County, Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Morrow County, and Lake District Hospital in Lake County.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent Oregon 15 testing machines, the same number sent to all other states, along with a small supply of testing kits and materials. The testing machines are capable of returning positive or negative test results in minutes. The three hospitals will begin validation testing this week. Rapid testing will not be immediately available to the public.
Oregon has ordered additional test kits for the rapid test machines. The CDC has not made it clear how many or when Oregon will receive these supplies. For more details, read the Governor’s press release.