New ‘Test Iowa’ testing site to open in Southeast Iowa

BURLINGTON, Iowa (WGEM) — Iowa is opening up more options for people to get tested for COVID-19.

During her COVID-19 press briefing on Friday Gov. Kim Reynolds said 1700 appointments were scheduled through testiowa.com since the testing requirements were expanded Thursday to include anyone who wants to be tested.

Friday, Gov. Reynolds also announced that a testing site will be opening up in Burlington, a much closer site for Lee County residents.

Currently the closest Test Iowa sites for Lee County residents are in Ottumwa and Davenport.

Gov. Reynolds also announced new sites in Council Bluffs, Marshalltown, and Sioux Center.

A schedule of sites, locations and times can be found here. 

Test Iowa is a statewide initiative to expand COVID-19 testing. Testing criteria now allows any Iowan to be tested, regardless of symptoms or potential exposure to the virus. To be tested, Iowans must first complete an assessment at testiowa.com and schedule an appointment at a test site.

Test Iowa’s mobile testing model makes it possible to quickly operationalize a temporary test site in a community where virus activity is increasing or access to testing is limited. Testing is rapidly scaled up to identify positive cases, conduct contact tracing, and determine the scope of the virus in the community. Overtime when test volume decreases, sites are moved to other communities where there is a need.