Courtesy of the Lincoln County Health Department
MERRILL – Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 28, free weekly COVID-19 testing provided by the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) and the Wisconsin National Guard will be held at the Merrill Festival Grounds, 2001 E. 2nd St., Merrill, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the entrance on Memorial Drive.
The weekly testing events were previously slated to take place at the Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) building.
The events are only available to people that live or work in Wisconsin.
Testing is intended for symptomatic individuals or close contacts who are five years and older. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, chills, and muscle aches.
Individuals receiving a test should be prepared to provide a current address, county of residence, and phone number when they arrive. Testing will be provided on a first come, first served basis, and attendees may have to wait to be tested. Vehicles will form a line while waiting for testing, and all attendees will need to stay in or on their vehicle at all times. No restroom facilities will be available onsite; please plan accordingly.
The National Guard will collect nasal swabs from those being tested to conduct a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The PCR test that will be used is over 99% accurate. The National Guard will be in uniform and in full personal protective equipment during these events.
Anyone tested is required to stay home until test results come back. Test results will be provided via email or phone by the National Guard or by your local health department in three to five days.
There are additional recurring community testing sites in northcentral Wisconsin until December. Information can be found at www.co.lincoln.wi.us/health/page/how-can-i-get-tested.
For Wisconsin COVID-19 testing information, visit www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/testing.htm.
For the latest information about COVID-19 in Lincoln County, visit www.co.lincoln.wi.us/covid19 or follow LCHD on Facebook.