Lakewood closes ‘Center for Covid Control’ test site operating without business license
.jpg "The City of Lakewood issued a stop work order for a COVID-19 testing site located a strip mall at 7801 Bridgeport Way West. The site was operated by the Center for Covid Control, which was running it without a business license.")
Lakewood city officials on Wednesday closed a COVID-19 testing site operated by the Center for COVID Control because it was operating without a business license.
The Illinois-based testing company, which lists three Pierce County locations on its website, is being investigated by the Better Business Bureau and the Oregon Department of Justice for its business practices. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it received two complaints regarding a University Place location.
The Lakewood location that was closed was in a strip mall at 7801 Bridgeport Way West. The city issued a stop work order for the testing site. Spokesperson Jim Kopriva said Wednesday when he visited the site he saw between 20 and 30 people walk up to the location’s window and walk away.
“There were dozens of residents walking up to try and get tested and saying they had appointments,” Kopriva said. “I notified them that the site had been closed for the day. They were concerned about their personal information.”
Kopriva said the city also contacted the consumer protection division of the attorney general’s office about the unlicensed business.
The Center for COVID Control’s website shows it operates more than 300 locations across at least 29 states. Complaints against the company listed on the Better Business Bureau’s website state that several people never received the results of their tests. One complaint claimed their result came back with the incorrect date and time of testing.
A Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department representative said the department was aware of the testing sites but deferred to the State Department of Health for determinations on their legitimacy.
In an email to The News Tribune, State Department of Health spokesperson Katie Pope said the department knows of at least 10 COVID-19 test collection sites operated by the Center for COVID Control in several counties, including King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap and Yakima.
The organization is not licensed by the DOH, and it is not part of a state or county testing program, Pope said. She said the DOH is investigating one complaint against the organization for possible unlicensed practice. The DOH couldn’t provide more details of that investigation.
The DOH recommended people looking to get tested choose a location listed on the department’s website or check with the local health department, such as the TPCHD. People who have concerns about a testing location can file a report on the DOH website. Pope said concerns regarding COVID-19 related fraud should be reported to the Attorney General’s Office.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 1:42 PM.
