COVID-19 Testing Update
Oct. 1, 2020
Things to Know
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All Skilled Nursing Facilities have a long-term lab partner for State-funded PCR testing. The DHS COVID-19 Response Team is working to support CMS testing requirements in Nursing Homes by mid-October.
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DHS partnered all Skilled Nursing Facilities with a long-term lab partner.
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These facilities are onboarding with their new labs this week.
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DHS is building capacity with these labs to provide routine and outbreak testing for all nursing homes to meet CMS testing requirements by mid-October.
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The state is reaching out to each lab is confirm their ability to support staff testing more often than bi-weekly when the CMS county prevalence rates require more frequent testing schedules. Adjustments to facility and lab partnerships may be needed to accommodate these testing surges.
- People tested at Wisconsin National Guard-supported Community Testing Sites can currently expect results within 5 days.
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Marshfield Clinic no longer provides fee-exempt supplies and laboratory services for COVID-19 testing. We are working with local and tribal health departments and long-term care facilities that were receiving supplies from Marshfield to move them to another fee-exempt laboratory. If you have not yet been contacted about moving to an alternate lab, please email wicovidtest@wisconsin.gov with Marshfield Lab Services in the subject line.
Regional Model of WING Support Expands Access to Testing
The State Emergency Operations Center and Wisconsin National Guard (WING) are implementing a regional model for COVID-19 testing. This new approach expands access to consistent, reliable testing for Wisconsin residents in all regions of the state.
How will the regional model be implemented?
WING support will be allocated by Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition (HERC) region. The allocation for each HERC region considered population and existing WING support at enduring testing sites across the state. WING support will be available through Dec. 10.
The weekly allocation for each of the HERC regions is listed below. These allocations are based on squad days.
HERC Region
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Squad Days (per week)
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Northwest WI
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8
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North Central WI
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7
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Northeast WI
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7
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Western WI
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5
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South Central WI
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10
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Fox Valley
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4
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Southeast WI
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20
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What is a “Squad Day”?
A squad is a subset of a WING specimen collection team. Teams typically have 28-32 WING personnel, while squads have 8-12 personnel.
A “squad day” is equal to one day of operations for one squad. A squad typically has the capacity to collect 300 specimens in one eight-hour day with use of COVID Connect.
What are the next steps for communities that want to request a recurring site?
The majority of a region’s weekly squad days will be scheduled as recurring community testing sites on either a weekly or biweekly basis.
- If you are interested in a weekly or bi-weekly recurring testing site, complete the Pre-Request Specimen Collection Form for Recurring Sites and submit it as part of a new resource request in WebEOC. We encourage you to get your requests in as soon as possible (ideally by Monday, 10/5) so we draft a schedule for your region.
- Once your request is submitted, Wisconsin Emergency Management Operations will schedule a call with your community and the Specimen Collection Action Team.
- Based on the requests, the Specimen Collection Action Team will draft a testing schedule for your region to review.
- We hope to have sites operational by mid-October.
Need help navigating the various types of WING support available for testing?
Our new Quick Start Guide can help!
Have you considered starting a community testing site? There's still time to apply for the COVID-19 Testing Pilot Program. This program provides payments to Wisconsin organizations that conduct eligible COVID-19 testing (i.e., specimen collection and results notification) in community-based, outbreak, and high-risk congregate settings.
Eligible parties may receive $35 for each person tested between Aug.13-Nov. 15, 2020, or until funds are exhausted.
Help get the word out and encourage others to apply.
Consider reaching out to and encouraging the following to partners to apply for the Testing Pilot Program:
- Local Pharmacies
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Free Clinics
- EMS/Fire partners in your community
- Small private clinics
Not sure where to start with contacting a potential community testing partner? Contact your regional testing liaison for help.
Testing Pilot Program Key Dates
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Last day to submit an application for the program: Nov. 6
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Period for specimen collection: Aug. 13-Nov. 15
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Last day for applicants to incur costs: Nov. 15
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Deadline to submit invoices to DHS: Dec. 4
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