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Michigan National Guard to Assist with No-Cost Community COVID-19 Testing at Four New Sites Friday

The Michigan National Guard will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan State Police State Emergency Operations Center, and local health departments to offer no-cost COVID-19 testing this Friday, June 19, in Alpena, Baraga, Ogemaw, and Tawas counties.

 

These drive-thru sites will be open Friday, June 19, only.

 

“As Michigan works to contain the spread of COVID-19 and lower the risk of a second wave, I encourage anyone near these testing sites with a need for testing, to get tested,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “I appreciate the hard work of these professionals from the Michigan National Guard, Department of Health and Human Services, and Michigan State Police to make this testing accessible, safe, and easy.” 

 

The Michigan National Guard has more than 45 trained testing teams ready to assist, of which 20 are currently assigned to support the community testing mission. These three-member teams include a certified medic to conduct the testing and two members to assist with paperwork, logistics, and non-medical tasks. All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety and to protect Michigan communities.

 

“As Michigan gets back to work, testing remains one of the best tools to assess risk in these communities for COVID-19,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Even as more than 1,100 guard members have been supporting the state’s response to COVID-19, not a single member of the Michigan National Guard has tested positive themselves as a result of their involvement with these missions – proof that the guidance for risk mitigation from public health officials has been effective.”

 

Locations for each testing site include:

 

Alpena County

Besser Elementary School

375 Wilson St.

Alpena, MI 49707

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

 

Baraga County

Niiwin Akeaa Center

111 Beartown Road

Baraga, MI 49908

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Ogemaw County

Surline Middle School

147 State Street

West Branch, MI 48661

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Tawas County

Tawas High School

245 West M-55

Tawas City, MI 48763

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

The MING has been actively engaged in the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through widespread testing and screening, distribution of personal protective equipment, and assistance at numerous food banks across the state. The community testing initiative is a continuation of those efforts.

 

Similar testing has been held in 22 other communities over the past four weeks.

 

For photos of COVID-19 testing last weekend in Alma, click here.

 

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.