COVID-19
City's COVID-19 test site to reduce operations
Beginning Feb. 1, the City's COVID-19 drive-thru test site will operate only on Mondays and Wednesdays to allow emergency management staff and volunteers to focus on COVID-19 vaccine distribution in our community.
The test site will continue to operate by appointment only 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and will offer 52 appointments per day.
“We are confident with the COVID-19 testing site options still available in Kitsap County that we can begin to transition our efforts to vaccine distribution and the next phase of this pandemic to help our community on a path to recovery,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage who is leading the City’s COVID-19 response.
While the City’s test site operations will reduce from three days to two, there are still test sites open six days a week in Kitsap County for anyone who needs a test.
As of Feb. 1, the community COVID-19 test sites in Kitsap County will include:
- Monday: City of Bainbridge Island (Bainbridge) and Kitsap County Fairgrounds (East Bremerton)
- Tuesday: Kitsap Conference Center (Downtown Bremerton)
- Wednesday: City of Bainbridge Island (Bainbridge)
- Thursday: Kitsap County Fairgrounds (East Bremerton)
- Friday: Poulsbo City Hall (Poulsbo)
- Saturday: Kitsap County Fairgrounds (East Bremerton)
A complete list of the Kitsap County community test sites, registration links, times and addresses can be found here. An appointment is required for all test sites.
A list of medical clinics and pharmacies in Kitsap County offering COVID-19 testing can be found here.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, staff will provide to City Council a briefing on the City's drive-thru COVID-19 test site and vaccine distribution efforts. You may watch the briefing the following ways:
- Zoom (link will be available in the Jan. 26 City Council agenda)
- City website livestream (visit the Agendas & Minutes page, then click on "In Progress" when the meeting starts)
- BKAT: Channel 12 on Comcast & Channel 3 on WAVE
State transitions to next phase of COVID-19 vaccination, expanding eligibility to more residents
Graphic courtesy of Kitsap Public Health District
As of Jan. 18, 2021, Washington State is in Phase 1B-Tier 1 of the state COVID-19 vaccine allocation prioritization plan. You can get the vaccine if:
- You are 65 or older
- You are 50 or older living in a multigenerational household (home where individuals from 2 or more generations live, such as an elder or grandchild)
Go to FindYourPhaseWA.org to confirm your eligibility and choose from a list of vaccine providers.
Individuals in Tier 1.A who have not yet been vaccinated are eligible to receive the vaccine moving forward.
Vaccine distribution on Bainbridge Island
The City of Bainbridge Island, in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department and Bainbridge Prepares, is coordinating with Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy on COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As of Jan. 18, this partnership has supported the vaccination of approximately 1,000 eligible Phase 1A individuals from Kitsap and surrounding counties. Learn more about vaccine distribution on Bainbridge Island at bainbridgewa.gov/COVIDvaccine..
Roadmap to Recovery: All regions remain in Phase 1
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced on Jan. 15 that based on Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan, all eight regions in Washington will remain in Phase 1 until at least Monday, January 25, 2021.
As outlined in the governor’s COVID-19 plan, regions must meet four metrics in order to move into Phase 2. These metrics provide an overview of current COVID-19 trends and healthcare system readiness in each region. The four metrics are:
- Decreasing trend of 10% or more in two-week rate of COVID-19 cases per 100k population.
- Decreasing trend of 10% or more in two-week rate of new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
- Less than 90% Intensive Care Unit (ICU) occupancy.
- COVID-19 test positivity of less than 10%.
DOH will reassess all the metrics each week and announce any changes to current phase status every Friday. For more detailed information on where each of the eight regions falls with regards to the four metrics visit the DOH website.
.City’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing site now open
The City of Bainbridge Island opened a drive-thru COVID-19 test site at Town Square Nov. 4 to support public health goals and the reopening of schools and businesses in our community.
The test site, located next to City Hall at 280 Madison Ave N, is open by appointment only 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for anyone who:
- Has COVID-19 symptoms
- Has been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days
- Has recently traveled to areas with a high prevalence of COVID-19
- Needs a test to return to work.
The testing site started with 24 appointments per day and has now increased to 48 appointments per day.
The City test site is only allowing appointments to be booked up to two weeks in advance. This is to help limit people booking solely for travel and to allow for people who need to be tested because they are symptomatic or a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
The City test site should not be used for pre-travel clearance and is not an approved site for travel to Hawaii.
Volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Bainbridge Prepares, and other emergency management volunteers are overseeing the testing process with support from Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage and COVID-19 Safety Officer Chris Rubin.
Testing site participants must make an appointment online at bainbridgewa.gov/COVIDtest.
Help us spread the word about the state health order requiring masks to be worn in public spaces. Download posters below. If you’d like to pick up posters at City Hall, please call 206-842-7633.
- Don’t breach our state health order. Wear a mask. (11x17 PDF)
- Do your part. Wear a mask. (8.5x11 PDF)
City resumes enforcement of bag ordinance
The City resumed enforcement of its single-use plastic bag ordinance Tuesday, Sept. 1 following approval by the City Council during the Aug. 11 meeting. Enforcement of the single-use plastic bag ban was paused in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to lift the ordinance during the pandemic was made because there were public health concerns around the use of reusable shopping bags and paper bags were difficult for retailers to acquire.
The City implemented the plastic bag ban in 2012 to reduce pollution created by the product and help the environment.
"We are an island in the Puget Sound and every single plastic bag that makes it into the Puget Sound is a tragedy," Councilmember Kirsten Hytopoulos said during the Aug. 11 discussion. "For me, going into our grocery stores and seeing plastic bags available again at the counter has been - quite frankly - shocking."
Paper bags are now more readily available for stores to purchase and use.
When ordering packaging, local businesses selling food should also keep in the mind the requirements of Chapter 8.24 BIMC, which requires the use of biodegradable packaging when selling or conveying food directly to ultimate consumers within the City.
City Hall reopening date pending due to Kitsap County status
The timing of any changes to reopening City facilities will be dependent on the county’s status in the Healthy Washington phased reopening plan.
When the doors reopen to the public at City Hall, you should expect the following changes:
- Plexiglass barriers at front counters
- Directional signage for movement of staff and visitors
- Six feet floor markings and stanchions to guide visitors
- New, lower occupancy limits for conference rooms
City Police personnel and Public Works Operations and Maintenance crews will continue to perform their regular duties, within the limitations established by the current restrictions. The Municipal Court will remain closed to in-person appearances until further orders of the Washington State Supreme Court. See the "City Operations" tab below for more information on City services.
City dock reopens to recreational guest moorage
The City reopened its dock May 29 to recreational guest moorage, including overnight stays, as part of Kitsap County’s transition into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan for COVID-19 recovery.
What guests need to know:
- The moorage is assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- At this time, rafting (to accommodate additional boats) will not be allowed.
- The showers remain closed to guests.
- The sewage pumpout station remains available.
All City dock visitors are urged to follow public health guidance, which includes wearing a face covering and maintaining six feet of distance from others in public whenever possible.
The launch ramp and boat trailer parking at Waterfront Park reopened May 5.
Community Resources
Learn about food and rental assistance, updates on Bainbridge businesses, status of other government agencies, utility assistance and more on the City’s COVID-19 Community Resources page here.