May 25, 2020 at 7:39 p.m.
National Guard conducts COVID-19 testing in Rhinelander
Local screening attracts 130
National Guard conducts COVID-19 testing in Rhinelander
According to a Wisconsin National Guard press release, the teams, comprised of more than 600 citizen soldiers and airmen, established mobile testing sites at locations ranging from correctional facilities and health clinics, to private businesses, and community-based testing sites. The goal of the drive-through stations is to boost the state's testing capacity.
The Rhinelander stop was the second in Oneida County for the specimen collection team, having operated a test site in Minocqua on Wednesday.
Warrant Officer Harrison Yi was the Officer In Charge of the team at both Oneida County stops. Both locations saw a steady stream of cars, he said.
"Typically, we see a little bit of a rush in the morning. People will line up an hour or hour-and-a-half beforehand," Yi said. "So we usually open up about 15 minutes before start time just to get people rolling through. After that, it's pretty steady throughout the day."
Another bump in traffic usually occurs after lunch, he added.
The two-step process being used, coupled with the relatively simple nature of the testing itself, has helped the volunteers avoid traffic congestion.
At the first station, guard members and health department staff fill out the paperwork for each person being tested. That paperwork is then given to the people at the second station where a person wearing a white Tyvek suit, latex gloves and full-face respirator swabs the person's nostrils.
The swab is then placed in a sealed container. The person's paperwork is also sealed.
Information on the form is also entered into a secure medical record database where the sample can be tracked through the rest of the process, Yi explained.
"We haven't timed it today, but usually people are in and out of here in 15 minutes," Yi said.
Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David Olejarz noted that other events were going on inside both buildings where the testing was taking place.
"We had people directing traffic along with signs to tell people witch way was to testing," Olejarz said. "We would test for some COVID and put some smiles on some faces at the same time."
He noted that every member of the guard team was here voluntarily, and he found that fitting one day before the start of the Memorial Day weekend.
"What we carry on with us is all of the past actions of those who came before us," Yi said. "And while the mission is different then, say, an overseas deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, everyone here is doing it of their own volition, this is a volunteer mission. They're just here to serve their community in this case. Not necessarily the United States, they are serving the people they live with."
Yi said 142 people were tested in Minocqua and the team collected 130 samples in Rhinelander.
"At the end of the day, we usually stop testing around 6 o'clock," Yi said. "So that last hour we'll start taking our stuff down. But we're ready to test people right up to the end time."
Although taking turns in the full Tyvek suit and respirator is uncomfortable with the warmer weather, Yi said his team has stayed pretty upbeat through the back-to-back screening days.
"Our team has pretty high morale right now, and it kind of helps that we balance that with people coming in here, you might be a little apprehensive about getting testing, especially once you hear that the national guard is doing the testing," Yi said. "So it helps put people at ease when we're out here having fun and being positive."
He said the team had tested at three other sites before coming to Rhinelander and expects more county health departments will ask for their assistance in testing additional people.
"After the Memorial Day weekend, we don't have any currently on our radar, but we are expecting to get some more the next several weeks," he said.
The samples are sent to a state lab for analysis.
The individuals tested are expected to receive their results via a phone call from either their local health department or a state call center within three to five days, Yi said.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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