Dept. of Military Affairs: Wisconsin National Guard approaches one million COVID-19 tests collected

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection teams will break the one million mark this week for COVID-19 tests collected since April 2020.
 
Teams have collected a cumulative total of nearly 996,000 specimens 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.
 
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. 4-10 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 between Dec. 21 and Mar. 8 at the Adams County Highway Department in Adams and has collected nearly 125 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Ashland County:  The Bad River Nation hosts a community-based specimen collection site Jan. 6.
 
–       Barron County:  A team conducts a community-based testing site each Tuesday between Dec. 22 and Mar. 9 at the Barron Fire Department building and has gathered nearly 120 specimens as of Jan 4.
 
–       Bayfield County:  A community-based testing site operates at the Iron River Community Center Dec. 28, Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 and has gathered over 90 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Brown County:  A team gathers specimens Jan. 7 at a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Green Bay.
 
–       Burnett County:  The St. Croix Tribe of Ojibwe hosts a community-based testing site Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 and had collected nearly 125 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Clark County: A community-based testing site operates in Curtiss Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and has gathered nearly 30 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Columbia County:  A community-based testing site operates in Cambria Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had collected nearly over 100 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A second site operates Jan. 5, Feb. 2 and Mar. 2 in Columbus.
 
–       Dane County:  A team collects specimens Jan. 4 at the Oak Hill Correctional Center. A team gathered over 450 specimens Dec. 28 at the Oak Hill Correctional Center.
 
–       Dodge County:  A community-based testing site operates each Monday and Wednesday in Beaver Dam between Dec. 14 and Mar. 10 and has collected over 1,500 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A team gathered over 140 specimens Dec. 28 at the John Burke Correctional Center.
 
–       Door County:  A community-based testing site operates Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22 and Mar. 8 in Sister Bay.  A second site in Sturgeon Bay operates Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22 and Mar. 8.
 
–       Douglas County:  Superior hosts a community-based testing site Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had collected nearly 40 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Dunn County:  A community-based testing site operates Dec. 29, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 in Menominee and has gathered over 30 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Eau Claire County:  A regional community-based testing in Eau Claire operates each Monday, Friday and Saturday from Dec. 11 to Mar. 8 and has collected nearly 500 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A second site in Augusta operates each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 and has collected nearly 90 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Florence County:  Florence hosts a community-based testing site Jan. 8, Feb. 5 and Mar. 5.
 
–       Fond du Lac County:  A team operates a community-based testing site each Thursday between Dec. 17 and Mar. 4 at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds and had gathered nearly 325 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Grant County:  Lancaster hosts a community-based testing site each Tuesday between Dec. 15 and Mar. 9 and has gathered over 200 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A second site operates at the Platteville National Guard Armory each Friday between Dec. 18 and Mar. 5 and has gathered nearly 150 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Iron County:  Hurley hosts a community-based testing site on Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and Mar. 9.
 
–       Jackson County: One team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 in Black River Falls and has gathered nearly over 200 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A team collects specimens Jan. 5 at the Jackson Correctional Institution.
 
–       Jefferson County:  One team conducts a community-based testing site each Friday and Saturday between Dec. 11 and Mar. 6 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Jefferson and has collected over 550 specimens as of Jan. 4. 
 
–       Juneau County:  Mauston hosts a community-based testing site each Thursday between Dec. 17 and Mar. 4 and has gathered 100 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       La Crosse County:  La Crosse hosts a community-based testing site each Monday between Dec. 14 and Mar. 8 and has gathered nearly 800 specimens as of Jan. 4.  West Salem operates a second community-based site each Saturday between Dec. 19 and Mar. 6 and had collected nearly 200 specimens as of Jan. 4.  A third site operates at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in La Crosse each Friday between Dec. 18 and Mar. 5 and has gathered nearly 175 specimens as of Jan. 4.  Holmen hosts a fourth site each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 450 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Langlade County:  Antigo hosts a community-based testing site Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Jan. 12, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 and had gathered nearly 50 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Lincoln County:  A community-based testing site operates each Wednesday between Jan. 6 and Mar. 10 at the Merrill Festival Grounds in Merrill.
 
–       Manitowoc County:  A team conducts a community-based testing site Dec. 15, Dec. 29, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 at the Manitowoc County Expo Center and has collected over 300 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Menominee County:  A team operates a community-based testing site Dec. 22, Jan. 5, Jan. 19, Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and Mar. 2 in Keshena and has collected over 100 specimens as of Jan. 4. 
 
–       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 between Oct. 23 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 3,200 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Monroe County:  The Monroe County Highway Department hosts a community-based specimen collection site Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18 and Mar. 4.
 
–       Oconto County:  Mountain hosts a community-based testing site Dec. 22, Jan. 5, Jan. 19 Feb. 2, Feb. 16 and Mar. 2 and has gathered nearly 150 specimens as of Jan. 4. 
 
–       Oneida County:  A community-based testing site operates each Tuesday and Thursday between Dec. 15 and Mar. 9 in Rhinelander and has gathered over 450 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Outagamie County:   A team conducts a community-based specimen collection site each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between Dec. 14 and Mar. 10 at Appleton North High School and had collected over 2,700 specimens as of Jan. 4. 
 
–       Ozaukee County:   Port Washington hosts a community-based testing site each Saturday between Dec. 12 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 150 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Pepin County:  A community-based testing site operates in Ellsworth each Monday between Dec. 14 and Mar. 8 and has collected 25 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Pierce County:  A team operates a community-based specimen collection site in Durand Dec. 22 and each Thursday between Jan. 9 and Mar. 4 and has gathered nearly 350 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Polk County:  Balsam Lake hosts a community-based specimen collection site Dec. 16, Dec. 30, Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24 and Mar. 10 and has gathered over 220 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Portage County:  Stevens Point hosts a community-based testing site each Monday between Jan. 4 and Mar. 8.
 
–       Racine County:  A community-based testing site operates at the Racine County Fairgrounds in Union Grove each Wednesday between Jan. 6 and Mar. 10.  A second site operates at Festival Hall in Racine each Thursday between Jan. 7 and Mar. 4.
 
–       Rock County:  A team conducts a community-based specimen collection site each Wednesday and Thursday between Dec. 9 and Mar. 10 at Blackhawk Technical College and has gathered over 700 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Richland County:  A team operates a community-based testing site each Thursday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 at the Richland County Fairgrounds and had collected 70 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       St. Croix County:  Baldwin hosts a community-based testing site each Thursday between Dec. 17 and Mar. 4 and has gathered nearly 100 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Sawyer County:  A team conducts a community-based testing site each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 at the fire hall in Winter and has collected nearly 150 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Shawano County:  A team operates a community-based site for the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation in Bowler Dec. 22-23, Jan 12-13, Jan. 26-27, Feb. 9-10, Feb. 23-24 and Mar. 9-10 and has collected over 250 specimens as of Jan. 4. 
 
–       Sheboygan County: A team conducts a community-based testing site each Wednesday and Friday from Dec. 11 to Mar. 10 in Sheboygan and has gathered nearly 600 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Taylor County:  A team conducts a community-based testing site Dec. 16, Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19 and Mar. 5 in Medford and had collected nearly 90 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Trempealeau County:  Independence hosts a community-based testing site Dec. 18 and Jan. 4 and has collected nearly 50 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Vernon County:  A team operates a community-based testing site Dec. 29, Jan. 12, Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23 and Mar. 9 in Viroqua and has gathered nearly 200 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       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 650 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       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 2,000 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Waupaca County:  A team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 at the Waupaca County Fairgrounds and has collected 225 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Winnebago County:  One team operates a community-based testing site Tuesday through Friday between Dec. 11 to Mar. 10 at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh and had gathered nearly 2,200 specimens as of Jan. 4.
 
–       Wood County:  A team operates a community-based testing site each Wednesday between Dec. 16 and Mar. 10 in Wisconsin Rapids and has collected nearly 90 specimens as of Jan. 4.  
 
As of Jan. 4 Wisconsin National Guard teams have collected 995,743 specimens statewide.
 
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.
 
Nearly 700 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.