UPDATE: Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties extend coronavirus testing

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Public health officials from Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties announced on Friday that they will extend the COVID-19 testing through May 22 and open the service to non-symptomatic individuals, beginning May 18.

Outagamie County officials said testing will be available from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the test site located on the campus of the Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC), 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., in Grand Chute.

Outagamie County Deputy Health & Human Service Director Mary Dorn said, “Extended testing will help inform us of confirmed positive cases, which will help us trace contacts. The more we test, the more we know about the risk to our community.”

Outagamie County reported that more than 1,000 members of the public have been tested by the units of the Wisconsin National Guard and noted that officials are focused on citizens from Calumet, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, but will not turn away residents from other counties.

County officials added that individuals will be required to remain in their cars as they drive through the facility and that testing is available to anyone over the age of five and all minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Individuals interested in receiving a test should complete a form available at outagamie.org/publichealth, or at the FVTC site.

ORIGINAL STORY: New COVID-19 testing site opens at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton

TUESDAY 5/12/2020 7:11 a.m.

APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The Outagamie County Public Health Division and Outagamie County Emergency Management, in collaboration with the healthcare systems and public health departments from Calumet County, Winnebago County, City of Appleton, and the City of Menasha are partnering with the Wisconsin National Guard to open a five-day COVID-19 testing site to meet testing demand in the Fox Valley.

General Information regarding new test site:

• No appointment is needed for the testing
• Daily testing capacity will be 300 tests
• Members of the Wisconsin National Guard will conduct the testing
• Testing is available for those ages 5 and older but minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can consent to the testing

Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to: Fever (>100.4); cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; sore throat; headache; chills or rigors (repetitive shaking chills); muscle aches; new abnormalities in taste or smell.

“Many people with COVID-19 symptoms have been unable to get tested for a variety of reasons,” said Outagamie County Health Officer, Mary Dorn. “The goal of this testing site is to provide access to anyone in the community with symptoms. It is important to provide symptomatic residents with testing to help identify cases and mitigate the spread of disease.”

“The public is understandably anxious to see officials moving forward with steps to manage COVOID-19. This tri-county initiative represents an important step. Testing and consequent contact-tracing put us in a better position to flatten the curve of contagion, and that’s the priority,” said Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson.

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