OSHKOSH, Wis.— Much of Northwest Wisconsin continues to face an upward trend in COVID-19 cases.
There was more than there hour wait time at Sunnyview Expo Center in Winnebago County. It's a first for the center. The county itself has tripled in positive cases in the last month.
"The lines are long; Monday is a tough day, It's always our busiest day off a weekend because there was a gap in testing,” says Shelley Brown-Giebel a coordinator with Winnebago County.
Health experts urge residents to choose wisely when deciding when they should take a COVID-19 test. Taking a test too soon after exposure can result in a false negative.
"The thing that’s important is people get tested appropriately. Going out on Saturday night and getting tested on Monday is not a good decision. It's a waste of a test and your time. It's better to get tested four to five, maybe six, days when you've been exposed,” says Brown-Giebel.
More than 350 vehicles waited in line as coordinators handed out information. The National Guard was also present at this site to help administer tests.
Winnebago County encourages people to pre-register online to avoid these lines that are expected to continue.
Health experts say high testing numbers are a direct result of more people experiencing symptoms.
"It’s really coming from the sheer volume of people who are catching this disease who are developing symptoms that need to be tested. So I think it goes to show the community not only do you need to be tested but how much it’s spreading right now,” says Dr. Ashok Rai, President of Prevea Health.
Experts are recommending those with symptoms to get tested and not let waiting times discourage them.