MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin National Guard conducted its 100,000th COVID-19 test as 25 specimen collection teams continued to operate across the state.
Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, called it a “great milestone” while visiting a Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection site in Antigo June 4.
“It really speaks to the dedication and professionalism of the Guard troops that have been testing for the last number of weeks,” he said.
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 (CBTS).
After collecting the specimens at each site, National Guard troops send the test kits to a lab for analysis. Results are shared with patients via a phone call from their local health department or a state call center within three to seven days.
The 100,000 milestone was surpassed June 4, when almost 4,200 specimens were collected. As of June 5, Wisconsin National Guard teams had collected 101,938 specimens statewide.
In addition, approximately 30 troops are working at a call center that informs people of their COVID-19 test results.
The testing is one of many tasks the Wisconsin National Guard has fulfilled since Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency March 12 due to the coronavirus.
Guard members have helped package and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE), served in medical roles at nursing homes and self-isolation facilities, and assisted the Dane County Coroner’s Office with mortuary affairs operations.
More than 2,400 Soldiers and Airmen served as poll workers during the April 7 election. Another 160 troops also helped during the May 12 special election in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.
Nearly 1,300 Guard members are now supporting the state’s response to COVID-19 in a variety of missions.