Walworth County teams up with Open Arms on effort
The Walworth County Division of Public Health this week launched a joint COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at Chapel on the Hill, N2440 Ara Glen Dr., Lake Geneva.
Open Arms Free Clinic will conduct testing (PCR tests) while Public Health will administer vaccinations (Pfizer first dose and Johnson & Johnson single dose).
Vaccine booster shots will not be available.
The site is open Tuesdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. through Oct. 26. No registration is required, and all tests and vaccinations are free.
“Activating this testing site is a proactive decision meant to prevent further strain on our regional hospitals,” said Walworth County Health and Human Services Deputy Director Trista Piccola. “Walworth County Public Health will continue to evaluate community demand for testing, and may expand testing availability should there be a need.”
A perfect storm of factors is driving the need for additional testing. Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals and medical clinics are seeing steady testing loads due to circulation of the highly transmissible delta variant. Long-term care facilities and private employer testing mandates are also driving demand. At the same time, regional healthcare systems are experiencing critical staffing shortages, which healthcare providers predict will intensify.
“With staffing shortages, schools back in session, and the possibility of a bad flu season further complicating testing efforts, we feel it is prudent to get ahead of any possible surge by providing additional testing and vaccination capacity,” Piccola said.
She said since the start of the pandemic, there has been a community effort to be as proactive as possible in mitigating the impact of the virus.
“We are very fortunate to have providers like Open Arms willing to step in and provide support,” Piccola said.
For more information, call 262-741-3200, email walcoph@co.walworth.wi.us or visit co.walworth.wi.us.
