COVID-19 testing at the National Guard and Cougar Health Services testing sites is free for all WSU students.

Testing was originally only free for students who did not have insurance, according to an Evergreen article.

Students must bring their Cougar Card to the site as proof of identification and will receive a test, said Phil Weiler, WSU vice president for marketing and communications.

WSU will cover the cost of testing for all students, regardless of international or undocumented status, he said. Testing sites will not take insurance information from students, even if they have insurance.

“We decided that it’s so critical for us to get as many students tested as possible that we figured we need to cover that cost moving forward,” Weiler said.

Testing at both sites began on Tuesday. Each test administered will cost WSU about $100, Weiler said. WSU expects to add the cost of testing to the estimated $54 million loss in revenue for the current fiscal year due to COVID-19.

The National Guard unit is offering drive-thru and walk-up testing services in the upper parking lot of the Steptoe Village Apartment complex, Weiler said. The site will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

All students can receive a test at either location, according to the Cougar Health Services website. It is not necessary for students to have come into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 or to exhibit symptoms. The testing site at Cougar Health Services is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Weiler said the school is unable to refund students who have previously been tested and had to pay out of pocket, but there are grants and funds available for students who do not have insurance and have been tested.

WSU received $21.76 million from the federal CARES Act. The money will assist students with financial hardships as a result of COVID-19, according to the WSU Student Care Network website. 

“This is going to be a painful addition to the loss of funding for the university,” Weiler said, “but it’s really critical for us to be able to keep students and the community healthy.”