Richland Center, WI: Richland County Emergency Management Director, Darin Gudgeon announced the number of individuals tested at the routine FREE COVID-19 community testing events held this week. On December 7th 40 individuals were tested and another 67 individuals were tested on December 10th. University of Wisconsin-Platteville Richland Dean Brandon Fetterly announced that 85 individuals were tested at their event on December 9th. The results of these 192 tests will be included in the appropriate county’s totals once they are received and verified.
Richland County continues to offer FREE COVID-19 drive-thru community testing events to our citizens on MONDAYS from 9am-Noon (or until all tests are administered) for the next 2 weeks (12/14 & 12/21). There are NO FREE COVID-19 testing events being offered in Richland County the week of December 28th. However, with the turn of the new year, drive-thru community testing events will be offered again on MONDAYS from 9am-Noon (or until all tests are administered) and on THURSDAYS from 9am-3pm at the Richland County Fairgrounds. Appointments are not required, but it is requested that those who wish to be tested pre-register at https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov. The website allows individuals to register for testing in advance with their personal information and gives them a QR code to scan at the testing site. Individuals who utilize this option will receive an email with their test results rather than a phone call. The Richland County Fairgrounds is a drive-thru testing site, so everyone will remain in their vehicles at all times. Vehicles with more than one person in them are welcome to be tested. You will be asked screening questions as you enter, if you did not pre-register, and the test will consist of a nasal swab. The test will then be sent to a State approved lab and results follow-up should occur approximately 3-7 business days post event.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Richland will offer their final FREE COVID-19 testing event on WEDNESDAY, December 16th from 9am-3pm in the Classroom Building located on the Richland Center campus. It is likely that these FREE testing events will continue in the new year; however, their 2021 schedule has yet to be finalized. Appointments should be made online at www.DoINeedaCOVID19Test.com, and confirmations should be printed and brought to the testing site. Assistance is available for those unable to print their confirmation from home. This testing site is fully accessible, but NOT A DRIVE-THRU SITE. Those unable to walk to the site may enter the sidewalk near Melvill Hall, follow the marked path, and drive with caution. Please park in the indicated space adjacent to the Classroom Building. The UW System universities will be the first testing sites using the BinaxNOW antigen tests, which are self-administered tests, that provide a result in about 15 minutes. Anyone who has a positive rapid antigen test will then be administered a PCR test to confirm or deny the positive reading and those test results will be sent via email after 3-5 days. Additional information can be found at https://www.uwplatt.edu/news/update-coronavirus.
The Richland County Events on MONDAYS are only for Richland County residents who meet specific testing criteria. The UW-Platteville Richland Events on WEDNESDAYS are open to area residents (age 5 and older), participants do not need to be students or employees of the University, and there are no eligibility criteria for testing. The WI National Guard Events on THURSDAYS are open to Richland County residents and those in our surrounding communities (age 5 and older) who are experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19 and for asymptomatic individuals per Public Health recommendations.
Tests will be available on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE basis. The FREE COVID-19 Testing schedule for events offered in Richland County are as follows:
| DECEMBER 2020 | |||
| Monday, December 14th | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Wednesday, December 16th | 9am-3pm | Classroom Building | UW-Platteville Richland Event |
| Monday, December 21st | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| JANUARY 2021 | |||
| Monday, January 4th | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Thursday, January 7th | 9am-3pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | WI National Guard Event |
| Monday, January 11th | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Thursday, January 14th | 9am-3pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | WI National Guard Event |
| Monday, January 18th | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Thursday, January 21st | 9am-3pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | WI National Guard Event |
| Monday, January 25th | 9am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Thursday, January 28th | 9am-3pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | WI National Guard Event |
This schedule is subject to change.
Richland County residents are encouraged to sign-up for NIXLE alerts by texting 53581 to 888777 or go to www.nixle.com to sign-up to receive emails. You will then receive up-to-date alerts regarding local COVID testing sites and clinics, severe weather, public safety, criminal activities, missing persons, traffic issues, and local events.
For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information, follow Richland County Health & Human Services on Facebook or consult the following websites:
- Richland County: https://covid.co.richland.wi.us
- The Greater Richland Area Chamber of Commerce: www.gorcchamber.com
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
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