Wisconsin National Guard continues COVID-19 testing throughout the state

Teams have collected a cumulative total of over one million specimens since April 2020 at community-based testing sites and institutional-based testing missions. The Wisconsin National Guard’s collection activities support the Wisconsin Department of Health Service’s efforts to expand COVID-19 testing throughout the entire state.

The teams, which are tailorable to meet the needs of a specific facility or community, are dispatched from a larger task force of several hundred Citizen Soldiers and Airmen. They have established mobile testing sites since early April at locations ranging from correctional facilities, health clinics and institutional facilities, to private businesses, senior-living facilities, and community-based testing sites.

Most community-based testing sites across the state are conducted on a regularly scheduled basis. All visitors seeking a test at these sites are urged to contact their local health department for more information about a particular testing day. Most Guard testing sites are closed Jan. 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

Those seeking a test at a Wisconsin National Guard community-based specimen collection site are urged to register online in advance using the Dynamics Testing and Registration Application (DTRA) program, which is also known as COVID Connect.

After collecting the specimens at each site, the test kits are sent to a lab for analysis, and individual citizens receive their results via an email or a phone call within three-to-seven days following the test.

Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection sites operating the week of Jan. 18-24 along with cumulative testing site totals are listed below. Additional information on these testing sites and others is available at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

• Adams County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Monday through Mar. 8 at the Adams County Highway Department in Adams and has collected over 300 specimens as of Jan. 18. This site is closed Jan. 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.
• Ashland County: The Bad River Nation hosted a community-based specimen collection site Jan. 6 where 180 specimens were collected.
• Barron County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Tuesday through Mar. 9 at the Barron Fire Department building and has gathered nearly 300 specimens as of Jan 4.
• Bayfield County: A community-based testing site operates at the Iron River Community Center Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 and has gathered nearly 200 specimens as of Jan. 18. The Red Cliff Nation hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 16, Feb. 13 and Mar. 6 and has collected over 75 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Brown County: A team collects specimens on a regularly scheduled basis at the Brown County Youth Detention Center and at a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Green Bay. A team collected nearly 775 specimens Jan. 11 at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.
• Burnett County: The St. Croix Tribe of Ojibwe hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 and had collected nearly 200 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Chippewa County: Cornell hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 20 and Feb. 17. A team collects specimens Jan. 19 at a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Chippewa Falls.
• Clark County: A community-based testing site operates in Curtiss Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and has gathered 60 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Columbia County: A community-based testing site operates in Cambria Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had collected nearly over 160 specimens as of Jan. 18. A second site operates Jan. 5, Feb. 2 and Mar. 2 in Columbus and has collected 70 specimens as of Jan. 18. A team collected nearly 550 specimens Jan. 11 at the Columbia Correctional Institution.
• Crawford County: Prairie du Chien hosts a community-based specimen collection site Feb. 9 and Mar. 9 and has gathered over 30 specimens as of Jan. 18. Gays Mills hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 19 and Feb. 23.
• Dane County: A team collects specimens Jan. 21 at the Oregon Correctional Center.
• Dodge County: A community-based testing site operates each Monday and Wednesday in Beaver Dam through Mar. 10 and has collected over 2,400 specimens as of Jan. 18. A team gathers specimens Jan. 20 at the John Burke Correctional Facility.
• Dane County: A team gathers specimens Jan. 12-19 at the Oak Hill Correctional Center.
• Door County: A community-based testing site operates Feb. 1 and Mar. 1 in Sister Bay. A second site in Sturgeon Bay operates Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22 and Mar. 8 and has gathered nearly 100 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Douglas County: Superior hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had collected nearly 60 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Dunn County: A community-based testing site operates Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 in Menominee and has gathered nearly 50 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Eau Claire County: A regional community-based testing in Eau Claire operates each Monday, Friday and Saturday through Mar. 8 and has collected over 825 specimens as of Jan. 18. A second site in Augusta operates each Wednesday through Mar. 10 and has collected over 150 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Florence County: Florence hosts a community-based testing site Feb. 5 and Mar. 5 and has gathered nearly 50 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Fond du Lac County: A team operates a community-based testing site each Thursday through Mar. 4 at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds and had gathered over 850 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Grant County: Lancaster hosts a community-based testing site each Tuesday through Mar. 9 and has gathered 300 specimens as of Jan. 18. A second site operates in Platteville each Friday through Mar. 5 and has gathered over 350 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Iron County: Hurley hosts a community-based testing site on Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and Mar. 9 and has collected over 50 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Jackson County: One team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday through Mar. 10 in Black River Falls and has gathered 300 specimens as of Jan. 18. A team collected over 300 specimens Jan. 5 at the Jackson Correctional Institution.
• Jefferson County: One team conducts a community-based testing site each Friday and Saturday through Mar. 6 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Jefferson and has collected nearly 1,100 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Juneau County: Mauston hosts a community-based testing site each Thursday through Mar. 4 and has gathered over 250 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• La Crosse County: La Crosse hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 11, Jan. 15 and Jan. 25 and has gathered over 1,250 specimens as of Jan. 18. West Salem operates a second community-based site each Saturday through Mar. 6 and had collected nearly 375 specimens as of Jan. 18. A third site operates at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in La Crosse each Friday through Mar. 5 and has gathered over 350 specimens as of Jan. 18. Holmen hosts a fourth site each Wednesday through Mar. 10 and has gathered over 750 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Langlade County: Antigo hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 15, Jan. 12, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had gathered 70 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Lincoln County: A community-based testing site operates each Wednesday through Mar. 10 at the Merrill Festival Grounds in Merrill and had gathered over 125 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Manitowoc County: A team conducts a community-based testing site Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 at the Manitowoc County Expo Center and has collected over 400 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Menominee County: A team operates a community-based testing site Jan. 19, Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and Mar. 2 in Keshena and has collected over 300 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Milwaukee County: A Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection team operates a community-based testing site in South Milwaukee at 1525 Tenth Ave. The site is open each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday through Mar. 10 and has gathered nearly 5,200 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Monroe County: The Monroe County Highway Department in Tomah hosts a community-based specimen collection site Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18 and Mar. 4 and had collected 85 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Oconto County: Mountain hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 19, Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and Mar. 2 and has gathered over 225 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Oneida County: A community-based testing site operates each Tuesday and Thursday through Mar. 9 in Rhinelander and has gathered over 800 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Outagamie County: A team conducts a community-based specimen collection site each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Mar. 10 in Appleton and has collected nearly 450 specimens as of Jan. 18. This site is closed Jan. 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.
• Ozaukee County: Port Washington hosted a community-based testing site on Saturdays between Dec. 12 and Jan. 12 and gathered over 200 specimens.
• Pepin County: A community-based testing site operates in Durand each Thursday through Mar. 8 and has collected over 60 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Pierce County: A team operates a community-based specimen collection site in Ellsworth Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 22, Mar. 1 and Mar. 8 and has gathered nearly 500 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Polk County: Balsam Lake hosts a community-based specimen collection site Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 300 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Portage County: Stevens Point hosts a community-based testing site each Monday through Mar. 8 and has collected over 50 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Racine County: A community-based testing site operates at the Racine County Fairgrounds in Union Grove each Wednesday through Mar. 10 and has gathered more than 330 specimens as of Jan. 18. A second site operates at Festival Hall in Racine each Thursday through Mar. 4 and has collected over 450 specimens as of Jan. 18. A team gathers specimens Jan. 19 at the Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility. A team collects specimens on a regularly scheduled basis at a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Union Grove.
• Rock County: A team conducts a community-based specimen collection site each Wednesday and Thursday through Mar. 10 at Blackhawk Technical College and has gathered 1,400 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Richland County: A team operates a community-based testing site each Thursday through Mar. 10 at the Richland County Fairgrounds and had collected over 125 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• St. Croix County: Baldwin hosts a community-based testing site each Thursday through Mar. 4 and has gathered over 160 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Sauk County: Baraboo hosted a community-based specimen collection site on Jan. 13 and collected nearly 70 specimens.
• Sawyer County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Wednesday through Mar. 10 at the fire hall in Winter and has collected over 200 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Shawano County: A team operates a community-based site for the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation in Bowler Jan 12-13, Jan. 26-27, Feb. 9-10, Feb. 23-24 and Mar. 9-10 and has collected over 850 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Sheboygan County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Wednesday and Friday through Mar. 10 in Sheboygan and has gathered over 1,000 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Taylor County: A team conducts a community-based testing site Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 in Medford and had collected nearly 150 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Trempealeau County: Independence hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 21, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and has collected nearly 90 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Vernon County: A team operates a community-based testing site Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 in Viroqua and has gathered nearly 350 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Walworth County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Tuesday between Dec. 15 and Mar. 9 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds and had collected over 1,100 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Waukesha County: One team operates a community-based testing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Waukesha County Expo Center between Dec. 14 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 3,200 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Waupaca County: A team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday through Mar. 10 at the Waupaca County Fairgrounds and has collected over 400 specimens as of Jan. 18.
• Winnebago County: One team operates a community-based testing site Tuesday through Friday through Mar. 10 at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh and had gathered nearly 3,500 specimens as of Jan. 18. A team collected nearly 100 specimens Jan. 11 at the Drug Abuse Correctional Center.
• Wood County: A team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday through Mar. 10 in Wisconsin Rapids and has collected over 160 specimens as of Jan. 18.

As of Jan. 18 Wisconsin National Guard teams have collected 1,015,873 specimens statewide.

Approximately 20 troops since late December are assisting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services with managing COVID-19 vaccine inventory at undisclosed sites across the state.

The Wisconsin National Guard experienced an unprecedented year in 2020 of assisting Wisconsin residents and local officials respond to COVID-19, election worker support and civil disturbance support operations.

Over 600 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard are currently serving in direct support of the state’s on-going response to COVID-19 in a variety of statuses.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.