Wisconsin’s free virus testing is open to all
Due to racial disparities, high-risk groups can get test while asymptomatic
Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified Saturday that it is making free coronavirus testing available to everyone at community testing sites throughout Wisconsin.
“Anyone who comes to one of our community testing sites, regardless of race or ethnicity, will be able to get a free COVID-19 test,” Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said Saturday. “This has been and will be the case at all of the state’s community testing sites.”
The update came after the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty raised concerns about plans to expand testing among African American, Latino and tribal community members in the state, which were reported Thursday by the Journal Sentinel.
“Will members of certain racial or ethnic groups be able to get tests under different criteria? For example, will African Americans be tested even if they have no COVID symptoms, while white persons will not?” Rick Esenberg, WILL’s president & general counsel, said in a statement. “Will residents of certain areas be able to get tests under different criteria? For example, will city of Milwaukee residents need not have symptoms? If the latter, how were those areas chosen?”
Wisconsin faces stark racial and ethnic disparities when it comes to coronavirus cases and deaths.
African Americans and Latinos account for about half of all coronavirus cases in Wisconsin. Latinos make up less than 7% of the state’s population, but account for about 30% of the COVID-19 cases. African Americans make up only about 6% of Wisconsin’s total
“These disparities existed before this pandemic. But what we can do in this present circumstance is we have to, have to, have to test more people.” population but account for 21% of the confirmed cases statewide. Approximate 30% of Wisconsinites who’ve died after contracting COVID-19 are African American.
“These disparities existed before this pandemic. But what we can do in this present circumstance is we have to, have to, have to test more people,” Evers said Thursday in an interview with the Journal Sentinel. “In order for us to do the best job possible serving the disadvantaged groups in this state who are disproportionately impacted by this virus, we have to test more.”
Free testing is being conducted by Wisconsin National Guard members at community testing sites throughout the state. Testing sites on the north and south sides of Milwaukee are expected to open Monday.
Officials have encouraged anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to get a free test at community testing sites.
State and local officials have been working to expand testing in Wisconsin. For example, Evers announced Monday that every nursing home resident and staff member in the state would be tested for COVID-19. Under that plan, all of the state’s 373 nursing homes are receiving free tests and diagnostics.
The expanded testing would have specifically focused on individuals in high risk racial and ethnic groups, including African American, Latino and tribal community members, regardless of whether they were having symptoms.
But anyone who goes to a community testing site, regardless of race or ethnicity, will be able to get a free test, Baldauff said.