Partnerships Lead to Expanded Testing Access for Community Members
October 16, 2020
NEENAH, Wis. – In an effort to expand access to testing for those living in Northeast and Central Wisconsin, the U.S. Surgeon General, ThedaCare, Sen. Roger Roth and community partners are announcing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is standing up a surge testing location in Neenah, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is seeing significant increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and will benefit from additional opportunities to identify new cases, especially for those who are asymptomatic.
“Testing is a critical component in our battle against COVID-19,” said Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who visited Neenah on Friday for the announcement. “If you or your loved ones are worried you may have come into contact with COVID-19, please make an appointment to get tested. It’s easy and free. I am also urging the public to please continue to do their part to protect others and to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following the three Ws: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. We owe this to our community and our friends and family members to protect them.”
The site will be located at ThedaCare Physicians-Neenah and provides testing at no cost to all individuals. Surge testing provides additional temporary federal support to areas that have seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases. Leaders from ThedaCare have worked with government officials, public health departments and other community partners to ensure access to expanded testing for Northeast and Central Wisconsin.
“We have been in constant contact with the health systems here in Northeast Wisconsin, and understand their need for more supplies,” said Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton). “Together we have been working diligently with federal agencies to get the resources we need to Northeast Wisconsin. I want to thank HHS, FEMA, and ThedaCare for their tireless efforts to get this up and running.”
This site will conduct up to 30,000 tests with the intent to detect cases that would go undetected to further help Wisconsin flatten the curve. Testing helps our communities better understand the infection and spread, allowing the public to take individual and collective action to keep themselves and others safe.
“We know that to best manage community spread of COVID-19, testing and contact tracing are critical,” Dr. Jennifer Frank, ThedaCare Chief Medical Officer. “Testing directly ties to our mission of improving the health of the communities we serve and gives us insight to the breadth and depth of those infected in our communities, and thus what the future numbers may be.”
According to HHS, the surge testing effort, which is starting in Neenah, will be expanded in capacity over the coming days as local partners explore potential additional sites and daily testing volume.
“Our community has proven to be resilient,” said Dr. Frank. “The severity of this virus is not over, and we must refocus our efforts as we’ve done before. Let’s re-double our individual and collective efforts and recommit to protecting ourselves and our community by doing what we know works.”
We must have the community’s help to get the spread of the virus under control. Partners are asking Wisconsinites to follow guidelines outlined by physicians, public health officials, the CDC, local hospitals and other health care experts, including:
- Practice social distancing
- Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors
- Wear a mask in public
- Avoid handshakes, hugs and kisses
- Wash hands often with soap and water
- Clean and disinfect common household surfaces
- Avoid people who are sick, stay away from others if you are sick
- Get your flu shot early
Testing at the surge locations is available to individuals experiencing symptoms; those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19; and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus. Individuals seeking testing do not need to be a resident of the community where these testing sites are located. Individuals under 18 years old must have a parent or legal guardian present to consent to testing.
Register for your free test at www.doineedacovid19test.com. You will also retrieve your results by logging into this portal when you receive an email informing you that your results are ready.
Testing Site Location:
ThedaCare Physicians-Neenah
333 North Green Bay Road
Neenah, WI 54956
At this time, the site will initially operate at a limited capacity with testing opportunities available on Friday, October 16 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Full testing capacity begins on Wednesday, October 21 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Appointments must be scheduled at: www.doineedacovid19test.com
