Zorn Arena is the site of community COVID-19 antigen testing beginning Feb. 2. All UW-Eau Claire students also are using Zorn Arena for testing during the spring semester. (UW-Eau Claire photo)

Free rapid-response COVID-19 surge testing will be available to Chippewa Valley residents starting the first week of February on the UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout campuses.

UW-Eau Claire

The community surge testing, which was conducted at Memorial High School the past two months, will now take place at Zorn Arena on UW-Eau Claire’s lower campus. Antigen testing for UW-Eau Claire faculty, staff and students is also being conducted at Zorn Arena, but community members will be tested at different times than the campus community.

The surge antigen testing is for people without COVID-19 symptoms and will be available to the community on Tuesdays and weekends in February. The first testing window for the community will be from 4:30-8pm on Tuesday, Feb. 2. On weekends in February, the testing will be available from 9 am-5pm.

“We are excited to be able to offer this testing to the community again in February,” says Grace Crickette, vice chancellor for finance and administration at UW-Eau Claire. “We have put an excellent system in place at Zorn Arena, and we will be able to help thousands of people monitor their health as we work to stop the spread of the virus in the community.”

The antigen tests are possible thanks to the University of Wisconsin System’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 140,000 BinaxNOW tests will be available to residents across the state at UW System campuses this spring. Confirmatory PCR tests will also be available at the sites.

Antigen testing will also be available to the Rice Lake community on the UW-Eau Claire – Barron County campus on Tuesdays in February. Beginning Feb. 2, the testing will be conducted from 10am-2 pm on Tuesdays in the university gym at UWEC-BC.

Members of the community can register for antigen testing by going to www.doineedacovid19test.com and setting up an account.

Community members coming to campus for testing are encouraged to park in the Hibbard Parking Lot, just west of State Street. Visitors can park in any available “F,” “COVID-19 Testing” or ADA-designated parking stall after 3pm. Parking is available in “G” designated parking stalls after 6pm. No permits or payment are required in “AMP Timed Parking” zones during weekends.

Individuals are asked to bring a smartphone capable of accessing their email account when they visit Zorn Arena for a scheduled test.

UW-Stout

The public will again be able to receive free, rapid COVID-19 testing at the UW-Stout beginning Monday, Feb. 1.

The tests are being offered through a partnership between the UW System and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help address the current surge in the COVID-19 virus in Wisconsin.

The Abbot BinaxNOW antigen tests will provide a result in 15 minutes. In certain situations, a free follow-up polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will be required to confirm the original result.

At the request of federal officials, UW System universities set up surge testing sites last fall, and testing began in early November. The testing identified nearly 18,000 potential positive carriers of the virus who were advised to isolate.

“We thank the federal government for their confidence in us, and we’re pleased that our university sites can continue to be used in the fight against this insidious disease,” UW System President Thompson said. “Where there’s a problem, I want the UW System here to help.”

At UW-Stout, tests will be administered in the West Gym on the lower level (south end) of the Sports and Fitness Center, 3rd St. E (corner of 3rd St. East and 13th Ave. West). Masks are required. Community members should enter through the south doors near the softball field.

Signs will give directions to the appropriate entrance.

Testing will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8am to 5pm; and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 7pm.

Registration can be done online at www.doineedacovid19test.com or by calling 1-800-635-8611.