About half of it has to do with the existence of the University of Washington Medical Center and associated Virology lab. The lab happened to be well positioned to quickly implement novel testing protocols.
The other half is that the Washington State Legislature, although demonically possessed on life and culture issues, has always tended to be fairly effective and efficient when dealing with practical matters at the state government level. Most state departments such as D.S.H.S. are pretty well run.
Also, Seattle was one of the states designated a month agp by the CDC to do testing. So they were part of the initial rollout. They had to pause while the third reagent was being worked out, but could have already had a lot of tests ready to deploy.
“Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters that the CDC will be working alongside public health laboratories in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and New York City to begin testing for COVID-19.”
Thanks, Steve on the WA state info—another one to file under “Best Practices”.
Of course they need draconian quarantine measures (including closing SeaTac)—now—or it won’t matter.
The Gov. is a day late and a dollar short.