If you are looking to get a quick COVID test in Enumclaw, you may be out of luck — the testing site has recently been swamped with visitors, and the only thing locals can reliably expect is that wait times will be long.

According to Sharon Bogan of Public Health — Seattle & King County, mornings can be especially busy, “but at times (especially Mondays) the lines are long all day,” she said. “We don’t have a pattern so we ask the public to be patient.”

Bogan added that part of the problem is that there is reduced lane capacity due to staffing challenges across all testing sites in King County.

All sites are now “appointment only” — but even getting an appointment can be difficult; it appears there are virtually no appointments available at the Enumclaw site through Jan. 17.

To make an appointment, head to www.solvhealth.com/book-online/pYWRj0. The testing site is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Alternatively, you may be able to have a free COVID testing kit sent to your home, courtesy of the Greater Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network. To enroll in the program, head to www.scanpublichealth.org/screener; kits typically arrive 24 hours after enrolling. The program warns it has a limited number of tests each day.

Expect long lines at the Enumclaw COVID testing site; one Enumclaw police officer on scene said the line sometimes stretches from the tent at 550 Semanski Street S., down McDougall Ave., and onto 244th Ave. SE, roughly a half mile away. Photo by Ray Miller-Still