Illinois Department of Public Health
Highlights Importance of Getting Tested Amid Ongoing COVID-19
Pandemic
Administration has Increased Testing
Capacity to Average of 50,000 a Day
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[September 08, 2020]
Following the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) recent announcement on changes regarding COVID-19
testing protocols, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
is reminding all Illinois residents of the importance of getting
tested, including after close contact with someone who has tested
positive.
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The Pritzker administration’s strategy to combat
COVID-19 across Illinois has always relied on increased testing.
IDPH state labs were the first labs outside of the CDC to test
successfully for COVID-19 early in the state’s pandemic response.
Since March, Illinois has tested more than 3.8 million COVID-19
specimens and has expanded testing to areas in the northern,
central, and southern parts of the state.
“In the face of increasing infections, we need to promote more
testing, not less, to identify new cases and interrupt further
transmission,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director
Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Given that asymptomatic individuals have been
linked to virus spread, we will maintain our more stringent guidance
to support testing of any Illinois resident who thinks they may have
been exposed, as well as asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed
cases 5-7 days post exposure.”
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The recent change in federal guidelines on COVID-19 testing does not
recommend asymptomatic individuals who come into close contact with
a confirmed case be tested for the deadly virus.
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Many individuals who test positive for COVID-19 have
not reported having symptoms. However, scientific studies have
proven that those individuals are still able to spread the disease
to family, friends, and members of their community who may become
sick and require medical attention and even hospitalization,
especially for those with underlying health conditions. Illinois
will continue advising anyone who comes into close contact with a
confirmed case be tested.
There are almost 300 testing sites in Illinois,
including 11 state operated community-based testing sites and 12
mobile testing teams that collect specimens at facilities
experiencing outbreaks (such as nursing homes and correctional
centers) and areas around the state reporting increased cases.
Additionally, IDPH is deploying its Wellness on Wheels mobile unit
to hotspots around the state to work with local health providers to
collect specimens. Testing at state operated sites is at no cost to
the individual, as are several other sites. More information about
locations, times, and requirements can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |