Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard collect specimens for COVID-19 testing May 18 at Menominee Department of Transit Services in Keshena, Wis. The Wisconsin National Guard has 25 COVID-19 specimen collection teams operating throughout the state.
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin National Guard has tested more than 88,000 people across the state for COVID-19 in support of local health departments and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
A total of 25 specimen collection teams from the Wisconsin National Guard continue to operate across Wisconsin to increase the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity.
The teams, comprised of nearly 600 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen, established mobile testing sites at correctional facilities, health clinics, businesses and community-based testing sites.
After collecting the specimens at each site, Wisconsin National Guard troops send the test kits to a lab for analysis. Those tested receive the results via a phone call from the local health department or a state call center within three-to-seven days.
As of June 1, Wisconsin National Guard teams had collected 88,654 specimens statewide. In addition, approximately 30 troops are working at a call center to informs people of their COVID-19 test results.
The Wisconsin National Guard has fulfilled a variety of roles across the state since Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency March 12.
Ongoing Guard operations include a warehousing mission where 13 Citizen-Soldiers are assisting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at a state warehouse receiving personal protective equipment (PPE) shipments from around the state, repackaging and redistributing them to areas in need.
Approximately 15 troops are serving as medical and administrative staff at state-run self-isolation facilities in Milwaukee, while a second team is serving at a Milwaukee County self-isolation facility. A third team supported a state-run self-isolation facility in Madison from April 2 to May 27.
A team of Guard members is assisting the Dane County Coroner’s Office with mortuary affairs operations.
Almost 1,300 members of the Wisconsin National Guard are now serving in direct support of the state’s response to COVID-19.
How the National Guard is helping
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