The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that in response to a drop in the demand for COVID-19 testing services at the ten Community-Based Testing Sites and the anticipated end of federal funding, operations at the locations will end on March 31. IDPH previewed that operations would be winding down when the mask mandate was lifted and has seen traffic at the sites – which carried out more than 1.5 million tests in total throughout their operation – drop precipitously in recent weeks. The sites are currently handling less than one percent of the tests being conducted statewide. Demand for tests at the Community-Based sites reached a peak of more 1,040 tests per day at each site in November 2020. The five sites that also provide vaccinations will close operations as well, having administered almost 8,800 doses. This is in addition to more than 243,000 vaccinations provide through almost 8,000 mobile vaccination clinics. To order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government, go to https://www.covidtests.gov. Additional information and COVID-19 data can be found at:  https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19.html

Vaccination is the key to ending this pandemic.  To find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you, go to www.vaccines.gov.