Private COVID-19 testing operations remain open, and doctors’ offices offer tests, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 63 at-home COVID-19 testing kits.
IDPH cites a “sharp increase in demand” that dropped “precipitously in recent weeks” as its reason for closing the testing locations, as well as an “anticipated end of federal funding.”
COVID-19 at-home testing is also more common and accessible, with the federal government offering to mail households testing kits and a federal requirement that health insurance companies reimburse policyholders who buy testing kits in stores. While there had been dozens of these sites dotting the state – performing 1.5 million tests throughout their time in operation, according to IDPH —Half of the sites had also been operating as vaccination clinics. Come March 31, they will no longer offer vaccines either.
“The sites are currently handling less than one percent of the tests being conducted statewide,” IDPH said Friday in a press release, and said that its data shows “the number of daily tests conducted at these sites is on track to be the lowest on record with each site seeing fewer than 50 individuals per day,” down from a peak of 1,040 per day at each site in November 2020.
“There are ample, convenient opportunities for Illinois residents to obtain access to a test if needed,” the IDPH release said, including atPrivate COVID-19 testing operations remain open, and doctors’ offices offer tests, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 63Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who led IDPH throughout the pandemic, resigned effective March 14.
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