By City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – More than 200 people in central Wisconsin will soon learn if they have COVID-19. That’s how many people showed up at a drive-through testing site in south Wood County the weekend of May 8-9.

The Wood County Health Department hosted the event at the county Highway Department facility in Wisconsin Rapids on Friday and Saturday.

Army National Guard and Air National Guard service member administer swab testing to those displaying symptoms. City Times staff photo.

Erica Sherman is a public health nurse with the Wood County Health Department and the Operations Section Chief for COVID-19 response.

“Sara” from Wisconsin Rapids drove through for testing, presenting with two of the many coronavirus-related symptoms – a cough and tightness in her chest. She figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

As far as opening the state back up, Sara said she’s no expert, and those decisions should be made by people with medical backgrounds.

Each patient who showed up went through a simple nasal swab procedure administered by members of the Wisconsin National Guard. The team was led by Staff Sergeant Nichole Jansen from the Army National Guard.

After members of the Army and Air National Guard were called up to perform testing, Jansen became a member of Team 18, and the Wood County mission was their first. She is a dental hygienist in her civilian life in Middleton, which is on hold under the “Safer At Home” order, so she was grateful for the chance to get out and serve.

Jansen’s team also consisted of a corrections officer, an attorney, a helicopter pilot, two federal technicians, a service member who works in the music industry, and a police dispatcher for the city of Milwaukee.

Sherman said test results from the weekend testing event should be in by Tuesday or Wednesday.