With Sharp Drop in Demand, Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites to End Operations March 31 – WTTW News

(Jakayla Toney / Unsplash)

In yet another sign Illinois government is moving into a new pandemic phase, the state will close its community, free COVID-19 testing sites within the next week.

The action comes amid concern about spread of the highly transmissible BA.2 variant, but the Illinois Department of Public Health in a release Friday said the State is currently strongly positioned to respond to a potential surge, with the State stockpile of tests nearly fully replenished. There are more than 1.5 million rapid tests on hand, with a half a million more on the way in the coming weeks.

Statewide, the case positivity rate is currently 1.4%, per the latest IDPH data. Chicago reports a positivity rate of .9%

The taxpayer-funded testing sites have been a fixture since early in the pandemic.

IDPH cites a sharp increase in demand that dropped precipitously in recent weeks as its reason for closing the testing locations, as well as an anticipated end of federal funding.

COVID-19 at-home testing is also more common and accessible, with the federal government offering to mail households testing kits and a federal requirement that health insurance companies reimburse policyholders who buy testing kits in stores.

While there had been dozens of these sites dotting the state performing 1.5 million tests throughout their time in operation, according to IDPH the agencys website now lists only ten.

Half of the sites had also been operating as vaccination clinics. Come March 31, they will no longer offer vaccines either.

The sites are currently handling less than one percent of the tests being conducted statewide, IDPH said Friday in a press release, and said that its data shows the number of daily tests conducted at these sites is on track to be the lowest on record with each site seeing fewer than 50 individuals per day, down from a peak of 1,040 per day at each site in November 2020.

There are ample, convenient opportunities for Illinois residents to obtain access to a test if needed, the IDPH release said, including at SHIELD saliva testing sites, federally qualified health centers.

Private COVID-19 testing operations remain open, and doctors offices offer tests, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 63 at-home COVID-19 testing kits.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who led IDPH throughout the pandemic, resigned effective March 14. Ammal Tokars, who had been assistant director, is serving in the top position on an interim basis while Illinois conducts a national search.

Follow Amanda Vinicky on Twitter:@AmandaVinicky

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With Sharp Drop in Demand, Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Sites to End Operations March 31 - WTTW News