State Cuts Back Days Free COVID Testing Will Be Done in Rockford

I hate to jinx anything, but it sure feel like the end of this long, stressful, frustrating COVID-19 pandemic road is almost here.

Vaccines are rolling out, and reports are saying that Governor Pritzker is going to officially reopen Illinois later this week as the state enters Phase 5, which is all good news!

The Illinois Department of Public Health provided further proof yesterday that the end is nearing when they cut the hours/days that free COVID-19 testing will be done throughout the state due to a decreased need for it.

According to the IDPH's website, COVID-19 testing will only be done at Rockford's state-funded testing site on Sandy Hollow Road on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This change will go into effect tomorrow, March, 18, 2021.

The IDPH's press release also says that the other reason for the change is to allow them to focus on 'targeted locations' where there is a greater need for testing;

 IDPH is realigning its testing strategy to deploy mobile testing teams to locations with a high demand for testing, such as schools, processing plants, high risk workplaces, and other targeted locations.

As of this morning there are no mobile testing dates scheduled for the Rockford area listed on the IDPH website, but I did see you can request a mobile testing unit to come to a certain location. Fill out a Mobile Testing Request now, here. 

One last FYI for you, the vaccination site located at  1321 Sandy Hollow Rd will still be open by appointment only.