Testing your emissions
One of the testing sites for C-19 happens to be in my old neighborhood. It's a former emissions testing facility that was closed in recent years, and because of the setup, it's actually well-positioned to do something like this--multiple bays for cars, with closed-off stations for the testers, I suppose. It's run by the National Guard, too. Its role seems to change by the day: First it was available to first responders and people over 65 who were showing symptoms; now, it's been opened up to anyone over 18 showing symptoms, though I think first responders take priority. Also, at first they only did 250 tests per day, then 400, and I think today they bumped up to 500. Doesn't matter; the cars start lining up at 4 AM, and the site doesn't open up for several hours, and they run out of tests by 11 AM. The line goes down the street before they even open. Across the street is a strip mall (I made countless trips to the old Venture store back in the day, and it's where the IHOP is that we go to sometimes when we visit grandma), and down the street is the HIP, or Harlem Irving Plaza, neither of which is probably seeing much traffic these days.
This is Channel 9's article from Monday.
COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites expand as Illinois cases surpass 4,500
by: WGN Web Desk, Judy Wang
Posted: Mar 30, 2020 / 07:35 AM CDT / Updated: Mar 30, 2020 / 01:45 PM CDT
CHICAGO - The Illinois National Guard has turned an old vehicle emissions test facility into a coronavirus testing site on Harlem and Irving Park Road.
The site, located at 6959 Forest Preserve Dr. in Dunning, opened at 7:30 a.m. Monday -- 90 minutes earlier than scheduled. The site's working hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The site was only made available to healthcare workers and first responders last week, but this past weekend, testing expanded to include people over 65 who have symptoms.
The site conducts 250 tests per day. On Sunday, the site on Harlem and Irving Park Road reached that number in just two hours.
Gov. JB Pritzker is asking the government to raise the tests to 400 per day.
State labs are adding a third shift and robotic equipment to improve testing efficiency.
Abbott Laboratories in the north suburbs is ready to launch its five-minute test after receiving FDA emergency approval.
Illinois has seen its biggest single day jump in new COVID-19 cases with more than 1,000 confirmed Sunday alone, and 18 deaths over the weekend. The latest statistics released by health officials bring the state total up to 4,596 cases, including 65 deaths.
And this is from Channel 5 earlier today.
Expanded Coronavirus Testing Begins on Chicago’s Northwest Side
Frontline workers at the facility near Harwood Heights are expected to conduct 500 tests a day
By Chris Hush • Published 3 hours ago • Updated 3 hours ago
Hundreds of people flocked to Chicago's Northwest Side to be tested for the coronavirus Saturday, the first day of expanded testing at a testing facility.
Patients who visit the testing site, which is located on Forest Preserve Drive near Harwood Heights, are instructed to pull into a garage and crack their window just enough so a member of the Illinois National Guard can swab the individual's nasal cavity.
Following the test, patients will be notified of the results in approximately six days.
Approximately 115 members of the Illinois National Guard are stationed at the testing site along with additional employees from the Chicago Fire Department and Illinois Department of Public Health.
The frontline workers are expected to conduct 500 tests a day, 7 days a week, doubling the number of tests administered since March. While priority is given to first responders and medical professionals, testing has been expanded to include anyone over 18 years old who has shown symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
Those who are over 60 years old or who have underlying medical conditions can be tested even if they don't exhibit symptoms.
"It's really a seamless process," said U.S. Army Major A.J. Ruggieri with the Illinois National Guard. "There's nothing to be worried about."
On Saturday, the first car was in line at 4 a.m., and by 11 a.m., all of the 500 available tests had been given out.
"If they (patients) find it that important to be out here at four in the morning, then we take it just as serious as they do," said Commander Francisco Velez with the Chicago Fire Department.
First responders said the goal of the expanded testing is to help anyone in need.
“I have nothing but respect for individuals that do come out here, who want to make sure they get themselves safe, so they don’t spread this deadly pandemic out to anyone else," Commander Velez added.
This is very close to where grandma lives, so if for some reason she needs to be tested, at least it's close. But at the same time, we don't want her leaving the house for any reason. (She says she's being good.) I'm kind of bummed that now that I'm essentially better--though my cough is lingering--that's when testing has become available. I did hear that they are working on a test, that could be done at home, to see if one's blood has antibodies for C-19. That would show, one, that they did in fact have it, and two, that they have immunity for the time being. Yes, please. I would order one for all three of us, just so we'd know.
(Lastly, if I've never said it, I'm disappointed that "concerned" isn't a choice of possible mood. There's worried, which comes close enough, but that's more on the frightened end to me. Concerned means you're not scared yet, but you want to keep an eye on things. Apparently nobody at LJ was concerned when they came up with possible moods.)
This is Channel 9's article from Monday.
COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites expand as Illinois cases surpass 4,500
by: WGN Web Desk, Judy Wang
Posted: Mar 30, 2020 / 07:35 AM CDT / Updated: Mar 30, 2020 / 01:45 PM CDT
CHICAGO - The Illinois National Guard has turned an old vehicle emissions test facility into a coronavirus testing site on Harlem and Irving Park Road.
The site, located at 6959 Forest Preserve Dr. in Dunning, opened at 7:30 a.m. Monday -- 90 minutes earlier than scheduled. The site's working hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The site was only made available to healthcare workers and first responders last week, but this past weekend, testing expanded to include people over 65 who have symptoms.
The site conducts 250 tests per day. On Sunday, the site on Harlem and Irving Park Road reached that number in just two hours.
Gov. JB Pritzker is asking the government to raise the tests to 400 per day.
State labs are adding a third shift and robotic equipment to improve testing efficiency.
Abbott Laboratories in the north suburbs is ready to launch its five-minute test after receiving FDA emergency approval.
Illinois has seen its biggest single day jump in new COVID-19 cases with more than 1,000 confirmed Sunday alone, and 18 deaths over the weekend. The latest statistics released by health officials bring the state total up to 4,596 cases, including 65 deaths.
And this is from Channel 5 earlier today.
Expanded Coronavirus Testing Begins on Chicago’s Northwest Side
Frontline workers at the facility near Harwood Heights are expected to conduct 500 tests a day
By Chris Hush • Published 3 hours ago • Updated 3 hours ago
Hundreds of people flocked to Chicago's Northwest Side to be tested for the coronavirus Saturday, the first day of expanded testing at a testing facility.
Patients who visit the testing site, which is located on Forest Preserve Drive near Harwood Heights, are instructed to pull into a garage and crack their window just enough so a member of the Illinois National Guard can swab the individual's nasal cavity.
Following the test, patients will be notified of the results in approximately six days.
Approximately 115 members of the Illinois National Guard are stationed at the testing site along with additional employees from the Chicago Fire Department and Illinois Department of Public Health.
The frontline workers are expected to conduct 500 tests a day, 7 days a week, doubling the number of tests administered since March. While priority is given to first responders and medical professionals, testing has been expanded to include anyone over 18 years old who has shown symptoms of the coronavirus, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
Those who are over 60 years old or who have underlying medical conditions can be tested even if they don't exhibit symptoms.
"It's really a seamless process," said U.S. Army Major A.J. Ruggieri with the Illinois National Guard. "There's nothing to be worried about."
On Saturday, the first car was in line at 4 a.m., and by 11 a.m., all of the 500 available tests had been given out.
"If they (patients) find it that important to be out here at four in the morning, then we take it just as serious as they do," said Commander Francisco Velez with the Chicago Fire Department.
First responders said the goal of the expanded testing is to help anyone in need.
“I have nothing but respect for individuals that do come out here, who want to make sure they get themselves safe, so they don’t spread this deadly pandemic out to anyone else," Commander Velez added.
This is very close to where grandma lives, so if for some reason she needs to be tested, at least it's close. But at the same time, we don't want her leaving the house for any reason. (She says she's being good.) I'm kind of bummed that now that I'm essentially better--though my cough is lingering--that's when testing has become available. I did hear that they are working on a test, that could be done at home, to see if one's blood has antibodies for C-19. That would show, one, that they did in fact have it, and two, that they have immunity for the time being. Yes, please. I would order one for all three of us, just so we'd know.
(Lastly, if I've never said it, I'm disappointed that "concerned" isn't a choice of possible mood. There's worried, which comes close enough, but that's more on the frightened end to me. Concerned means you're not scared yet, but you want to keep an eye on things. Apparently nobody at LJ was concerned when they came up with possible moods.)