Community members of Pacific Islander heritage are strongly encouraged to attend a free COVID-19 testing event in Federal Way today, organizers say.

The free drive-thru and walk-up testing site is held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 31 at Federal Way High School (30611 16th Ave S.)

Organized by the Pacific islander Community Association of Washington, International Community Health Services and community leaders, the testing opportunity due to the virus’s disproportional impact on the Pacific Islander community.

South King County has also developed spiking rates of COVID-19 infections within recent weeks.

“I think it’s super important due to the heightened level of concern around COVID-19 in the South King County area, particularly within the Pacific Islander community which has the highest rates of cases by population size,” said Rep. Jesse Johnson. “They are being heavily impacted.”

Federal Way has a high Pacific Islander population and families may feel more comfortable going to a mobile site compared to going into the clinic, he said.