MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) - There was more COVID-19 testing in central Wisconsin on Tuesday.
The Wood County Health Department held its second drive-through event, this one at the Fairgrounds in Marshfield. Members of the Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard performed nasal-swab testing.
With a number of COVID-19 cases surrounding the Marshfield area, Wood County Health Department Public Information Officer and Community Health Planner Kristie Egge said it was important to hold the event now, to see if the virus was spreading into the city. "There are cases in the Marathon County area and the Abbotsford area. So just bringing a testing to the northern part of the county was a really smart idea."
Egge said the initial turnout was higher than what officials expected, and higher than what they saw at a similar testing event May 9 in Wisconsin Rapids. "Comparatively speaking, we were busier here... especially during the first hour and a half," she said.
Egge said the timing of the event coincides with several parts of the economy opening back up, and also an increase in available test kits. "We want to be prepared to have as much data as we can, so that we have an idea of what we're dealing with."
Wood County has had a total of 10 cases of COVID-19. One individual has died, eight individuals have recovered and one person is currently recovering. But despite the lack of a massive outbreak, Egge cautions against mass gatherings. As far as wearing masks and social distancing, Egge says she doesn’t see things returning to normal for quite some time, but thinks we can find a new normal—and those practices should be part of that.