Richland Center, WI: Richland County Emergency Management Director, Darin Gudgeon announced the number of individuals tested at the FREE COVID-19 drive-thru community testing events held in January. On January 13th 104 individuals were tested, another 71 were tested on January 17th, 51 on January 24th, 40 on January 27th, and 18 individuals were tested yesterday January 31st. The results of these 284 tests were included in the appropriate county’s totals once they were received and verified. Gudgeon reports “unfortunately, we were not able to offer any testing events the week of January 3rd, on January 10th or January 20th due to the frigid temperatures. However, I’m pleased to announce that, weather permitting, Richland County will be offering MONDAY testing events through February and the Wisconsin National Guard will be continuing their THURSDAY testing events on February 3rd and February 10th as well.”
FREE COVID-19 drive-thru community testing events will be held in Richland County on MONDAYS from 10am-Noon and THURSDAYS from 11am-2pm at the Richland County Fairgrounds WEATHER PERMITTING. Appointments are not required, but we are asking that those who wish to be tested pre-register at https://register.covidconnect.wi.gov. The schedule is as follows (subject to change):
| Thursday, February 3rd | 11am-2pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | National Guard Event |
| Monday, February 7th | 10am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Thursday, February 10th | 11am-2pm | Richland County Fairgrounds | National Guard Event |
| Monday, February 14th | 10am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Monday, February 21st | 10am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
| Monday, February 28th | 10am-Noon | Richland County Fairgrounds | Richland County Event |
Gudgeon states “we apologize for any inconvenience that closing down testing sites may have caused; however, the Richland County Fairgrounds is a drive-thru testing site, so everyone tested remains in their vehicles at all times, but the professionals and equipment used to perform the tests are routinely exposed to the cold weather. It is just not possible to conduct a safe drive-thru testing event in frigid temperatures. The technique of swabbing the nose for secretions to be analyzed for the COVID-19 virus is a medical procedure, and for the health and safety of our staff and those wanting a test, we will only hold testing events on Mondays when the outside temperature and wind chill can be mitigated by the heaters in the testing area. This means that the outside temperature needs to be in the mid to upper teens at the time we open the drive thru with no negative wind chill.”
There are other local COVID-19 testing options. Individuals who are symptomatic and need a test, should contact the Richland Hospital Clinic at 608-647-6321 or their primary healthcare provider. Individuals who are asymptomatic (without symptoms) or have had an exposure and need a test for school, work or travel, should contact the Center Pharmacy at 608-647-8918 or Boscobel Pharmacy at 608-375-4466. Appointments and masks are required at all locations.
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 vaccination 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
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/