The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will open a second COVID-19 testing site at the Culver Family Welcome Center on the Oshkosh campus to help stem the surge of regional cases.
New testing centers are being set up at UW System schools around the state in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
UW System has received 250,000 Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests that provide results within 15 minutes. The testing centers on the UW campuses will be the first of their kind in the country to conduct free surge testing with the BinaxNOW tests. Surge testing is intended to help local, state and federal public health experts identify new cases, including asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases.
At UW Oshkosh, the new effort will complement the testing already taking place in Albee Hall. Mandatory weekly testing for UWO residence hall students will continue in Albee. Off-campus students also may test in Albee.
“From the moment students started to move into our residence halls in early September, UW Oshkosh has been testing for COVID-19 on the Oshkosh campus. I am proud of the work so many of you have done to ensure the success of our testing program and to assist in the quick setup of the new site,” said UWO Chancellor Andy Leavitt. “I remain grateful to each and every one of you who has worn a mask, practiced physical distancing, avoided large gatherings and participated in the robust testing program on our campus.”
Testing at the welcome center will begin on Monday, Nov. 9. The center will be operated by eTrueNorth under contract with the federal government. It will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, offering about 800 tests per day. The testing center is expected to be open for a minimum of four to six weeks. Free parking is available in the welcome center lot.
Appointments for a BinaxNOW test are available at doineedacovid19test.com.
UWO faculty and staff and their families, as well as off-campus students who are not able to get an appointment at Albee, may sign up for testing at the welcome center. Individuals may be tested weekly.
Individuals do not have to be experiencing symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 to get a test, nor do they need to live in the community where the testing site is located. Those who receive a positive test will be asked to take a PCR test to confirm the results.
Learn more:
- UW System to lead massive surge testing effort for Wisconsin
- CDC to evaluate UW Oshkosh’s robust COVID-19 antigen testing