GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- As more people get vaccinated it looks like we are winning our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the number of new cases reported is dropping, so is the number of tests being conducted. At the height of the pandemic in mid-November over 50-thousand tests were processed in one day, but just yesterday fewer than 15-thousand test results were reported.
That's in part why healthcare leaders are reminding folks today, that convenient testing sites are still open to the public and the process has been streamlined over the past year.
When testing for COVID-19 first became an opportunity in northeast Wisconsin, it wasn't uncommon for a site to process nearly 1-thousand tests during the course of a day. But, across our region, those numbers are trending downward.
"We see anywhere from 175 to 250 patients a day," says Chris Guyette a Registered Nurse with Bellin Health.
Guyette says her testing site within the Green Bay Plaza has remained relatively busy since they opened back in November, but that doesn't mean there aren't concerns about fewer folks getting tested as positive cases for the virus continue to drop.
"Testing is still important because we still don't have all of our kids vaccinated, we still don't even have some of our adult population vaccinated so they are still contracting covid," says Guyette.
A test at Guyette's site today takes less than 10 minutes with an appointment and results are typically available online within about an hour. And while fewer folks across our region are utilizing this service it has become more streamlined than ever.
"Our swabber or collector will come over there and perform the test and you're on your way."
Across northeast Wisconsin today there are fewer COVID-19 testing sites than there were just a few months ago. But those in the healthcare industry hope that you'll seek them out if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
"Right now, is a horrible time because there is a common cold going around, there are allergies spiking and so many are like it's just allergies so we're not going to get tested. Or it's just a cold, so I'm not going to get tested. I'm here to tell you that we get plenty of people that drive through this site that thought the same thing, that were positive," adds Guyette.
Because while we may be far removed from the worst of the pandemic, a small gesture like getting tested could make a world of a difference to someone who unfortunately caught the virus, from someone else who didn't think they had it.
The Department of Health Services website has a complete list of COVID-19 testing sites across our region. Most health clinics and stores like Walgreens and CVS pharmacies also provide free testing for those who believe they may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
