Our state's testing capacity is a critical component of both our response right now and our medium-term path to get to the other side of this crisis. Today, I want to give you our latest developments:
I’m pleased that @thermofisher was not only extremely helpful in improving testing procedures, but also committed to prioritizing Illinois as a customer.
Our five machines are now up & running, and we estimate we'll be able to run thousands more tests per day over the next week.
Our five machines are now up & running, and we estimate we'll be able to run thousands more tests per day over the next week.
Machines and labs are only one piece of the equation. We also need adequate supplies to take specimens.
I’m incredibly proud that my team has now managed to virtually eliminate our supply chain problems for viral transport medium (VTM) and swabs.
I’m incredibly proud that my team has now managed to virtually eliminate our supply chain problems for viral transport medium (VTM) and swabs.
Our university partners of @illinoistech, @SIUC, @thisisUIC and @Illinois_Alma as well as outside vendors, have committed to providing us with enough VTM and swabs that we can not only stock our own state labs, but support additional labs throughout the state.
Our final piece is increasing the number of testing locations across the state – especially in African American communities and other communities that face significant structural challenges in accessing health care.
We are utilizing our incredible statewide network of Federally Qualified Health Centers to launch new testing locations in communities across Illinois.
These new sites will feed specimens to our network of expanded laboratory capacity.
These new sites will feed specimens to our network of expanded laboratory capacity.
We're utilizing our incredible statewide network of Federally Qualified Health Centers to launch new testing locations in communities across Illinois — including across Chicago, the collar counties, Peoria and Southern Illinois, with many more to come.
An up-to-date list of these sites will be online at coronavirus.illinois.gov.
I want to remind everyone that if you think you might need a COVID-19 test and your symptoms are somewhat mild, please call before showing up.
I want to remind everyone that if you think you might need a COVID-19 test and your symptoms are somewhat mild, please call before showing up.
While each independent provider can and will offer tests with their own unique criteria, the State of Illinois has expanded those eligible to get a test to include anyone who has COVID-like symptoms, even if you have not been given a doctor’s order.
Our new drive-thru testing site, in south suburban Markham, took over 600 specimens on its first day of operations — about four times what the federal sites were doing previously.
With this new site, our three drive-thrus now have the ability to run up to 1,800 tests per day.
With this new site, our three drive-thrus now have the ability to run up to 1,800 tests per day.
Folks, this progress on testing isn’t all the progress we need to begin our path back to normal, but this is an important step to help us get there.
Until that day comes, please take comfort in the fact that you are helping to make a difference.
Until that day comes, please take comfort in the fact that you are helping to make a difference.
