Whiteside County Community Health Clinic (WCCHC) and Whiteside County Health Department (WCHD) will offer free, no-appointment-necessary, rapid antigen testing every Friday in January, at their drive-through, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The location is 1300 W. Second Street, Rock Falls, IL. Tests will be given while supplies last, as an extension of the Know Before You Go campaign.
The campaign goal is to find positive cases before the weekend, so we can intervene quickly and stop the novel coronavirus from spreading.
Antigen tests will provide same-day results. Together, we can work as a community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 through testing, rapid identification of positive cases, isolation, and quarantine.
Participants will be called with results by the end of the day they test. Antigen tests are not as reliable for confirming someone is truly negative. Therefore, notes will only be provided for individuals who test positive. Also, the test does not confirm a negative. So, notes will not be provided for negative results.
WCCHC and WCHD do not recommend retesting if someone has tested positive in the last 90 days.
Antigen tests can be used to slow the spread of COVID-19 by providing rapid results. However, these tests are not as sensitive as PCR tests, and they can produce a higher number of “false negatives.” Rapid antigens testing may not detect COVID-19 in positive individuals, if they are asymptomatic or early in their infectious period.
To keep COVID-19 from spreading, individuals who test negative should still follow CDC guidance for staying safe during daily activities and when going out.
Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/going-out.html
If you have questions please contact the IDPH COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931.