Free test clinic to open in Port as Covid-19 cases increase

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, free Covid-19 testing clinics for people ages 5 and older are being held in Port Washington and West Bend through early December, according to the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department.

The Ozaukee County clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 31, Nov. 7, 14 and 21 and Dec. 5.

They will be at the transit services building, 410 S. Spring St.

In Washington County, the clinics will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 20 and 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24 and Dec. 1 and 8.

They will be at Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Hwy PV.

As of Tuesday, Ozaukee County had 1,694 positive cases of Covid-19, according to the health department. That’s an increase of 145 people since last Tuesday.

The number of active cases in the county is 179, compared to 259 last week, and the hospitalization rate was 6.15%, the health department said. Twenty-one people in the county have died of the disease. 

People are encouraged to seek testing through their physician before coming to the free clinics.

Testing, which will be done by the Wisconsin National Guard, will be done on a first-come, first-served basis, and about 300 people will be tested each day.

People are encouraged to get tested if they have coronavirus symptoms, are a close contact of someone who has tested positive, is a member of a vulnerable population or live in a high-risk congregate setting, such as a long-term care facility or are a health care worker, first responder or law enforcement officer.

Those attending the clinics must be Wisconsin residents, and they are encouraged to complete the registration and screening process online at register.covidconnect.wi.gov. On-site registration will also be available.

Those attending may be asked to provide their insurance information.

Those being tested are asked to limit contact with others and quarantine at home until they receive their results, which can take three to seven days. 

Those who test positive will be called by the health department so contact tracing can be done.

People who test negative will be emailed a secure link to view and print the results. If the email is not checked, officials will attempt notification by phone. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has launched a Covid-19 Test Result Hotline at (866) 419-6988 for individuals tested at any Wisconsin National Guard testing site.