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Clark County Health Department's Statement on Workplaces/Employers Requiring Employees be Tested for COVID-19

Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 -- 1:42 PM

-The Clark County Health Department (CCHD) has been receiving an influx in calls, concerns, and questions regarding workplaces/employers requiring employees to be tested for COVID-19 before being able to return to work.

The CCHD currently is not a testing facility for COVID-19. At this time, there are other local healthcare facilities that conduct testing. Clinicians are the ones who make the final decision to test patients for COVID-19, based on their clinical judgement.

Testing is NOT recommended for patients with mild, upper respiratory symptoms, except in limited circumstances. People without underlying health conditions, and who are not health care workers, should not be tested if they have mild illnesses for which they would not normally seek medical care. It is recommended that these people self-isolate at home until their symptoms resolve.

For employees that are tested, result periods may vary. Despite testing facilities increasing their capacity for COVID-19 testing, the specimens that are being received are far exceeding their daily capacity. Due to this, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has now put into place different priority levels for COVID-19 testing. This is in order to avoid depleting supplies for testing. Lower priority test specimens will have a longer time to result, and are sent out to alternative state laboratories. If an employee is tested, expect them to potentially be out of work for an extended period of time.

If you have an employee that you believe needs to be tested, the employee must call their healthcare facility ahead of time. Many facilities are not currently taking walk-ins, due to the influx of those requesting to be tested.

If places of employment, or employees, have any questions regarding COVID-19 testing, please give CCHD a call at 715-743-5105.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.