Coronavirus Testing Site Coming To Lincolnwood Town Center

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — With record numbers of daily new coronavirus cases in Illinois and positivity and hospitalization rates in the Chicago area continuing to rise, State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) announced plans for a temporary COVID-19 testing site in Lincolnwood starting later this week.

Villivalam said the testing site would be available for five days, starting Thursday, in the Lincolnwood Town Center parking lot, 3333 W. Touhy Ave. It is due to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, according to his office.

“We need to continue our strong testing and contact tracing operations to stay ahead of the virus and keep our positivity rates down,” Villivalam said in a statement. “This temporary testing site a way to make it easier than ever to get a fast, easy and free test, but it’s also key to being able to safely reopen our state and economy. Testing and contact tracing are vital to being able to continue getting back to normal activities without compromising on our health and safety.”

The nasal swab tests are free and can be administered to motorists or pedestrians. Results are available within four days to a week, according to Villiavalam's office.

Cook County Department of Public Health Senior Medical Officer Dr. Kiran Joshi said it was vital for everyone to abide the "Tier 1" restrictions on indoor dining and gathering limits imposed last month as a result of the region's rapidly rising positivity and hospitalization rates.

RELATED: Coronavirus Positivity Rate Rises Beyond 11 Percent In Cook County Suburbs

“Suburban Cook County – Region 10 – has seen nine days of positivity increases,” Joshi said Friday. “Hospital admissions have increased for the past eight days. It is imperative that all of us wash our hands, wear masks, watch our distance, and, please – follow the Tier I mitigation requirements.”

Tests are open to everyone, regardless of symptoms. Residents were asked to bring their insurance card, but tests are available without proof of insurance or citizenship.

“We’ve worked very hard to keep our state’s net positivity rate down,” Villivalam said. “If we don’t want to face any major setbacks to restoring a sense of normalcy, we have to stay vigilant.”

More information about the scheduled locations of mobile COVID-19 testing sites is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health.