Winona's new semi-permanent COVID testing site opened Wednesday afternoon in the Winona Mall. The site's entrance is located on the southwest corner of the mall.
The new site occupies the space formerly used by the mall's indoor playground and is expected to remain open until at least the end of the year. According to Winona County Emergency Management, if the state provides additional funding, it will remain open longer.
Comprised of 13 tables for testing, the new testing facility ensures that people are positioned well enough away from one another. This test is not the nasal swab that many have heard about, but instead a saliva test; testers simply spit into a funnel attached to a tube and can expect their results in 48-72 hours.
The new site is open Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in getting tested are asked not to eat, drink, chew or smoke anything for at least 30 minutes before testing.
No end is in sight for Winona’s semi-permanent COVID-19 testing site, the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed Monday.
The department told Winona County, “There are no plans to close the Winona community testing site at this time. Minnesotans in the Winona region are encouraged to visit the community testing site at the Winona Mall, especially anyone who has symptoms, was exposed, has attended a high-risk event, works outside of the home, and is returning to a classroom or campus. Testing is critical to Minnesota’s COVID-19 response, and the state’s no-cost, barrier-free community sites make it easy for anyone to get a test.”
The fate of the testing sight had been unknown for the past few weeks, as a new extension had not been issued and all that was known at the local level was that it would be open through February.
Through the week of January 31, 12,350 tests — all of which are done through the collection of saliva — had been completed at the Winona Mall.
The highest week was that of Nov. 15 with 2,510 tests completed, while it has slowed down since.
The lowest week was that of Dec. 20 with 349 tests completed.
No week has had more than 1,000 tests completed since the very beginning of December.
The Winona County Health and Human Services department says that the decrease of tests may be due to “less demand for testing (and/or) a decrease in college student population.”
For more information about this testing option and others, visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.
Holmen, Wis.
Three besties caring for each other by wearing masks
Jim Falls, Wis.
My granddaughter Johana and I - Getting through COVID-19 pandemic - "We can do it!"
La Crescent, MInn.
This is my 3 year old son Julian. I like to get my kids their favorite color and/or character to make it a little more fun to wear.
Working at the Tomah VA serving our Veterans during this pandemic!
In My Family We all Wear Our Masks Cindy And Baby V
mask made by fellow West Salem High School chemistry teacher
La Crosse punk
"My band had some masks printed to add to our merchandise line-up! Zammek - La Crosse Punk"
Lace for a lady
Caring for the community
A retired state social worker and her daughter who is a public school teacher say, “wearing masks when out and about is a simple and loving thing to do for your community.”
A mask with bling
Fancy that - a mask with bling!
Dinner guests
Having dinner guests together at home. Left to right, Don Smith, Mary Rohrer, and Nancy Korn Smith. We asked our readers to show off their masks for all to see. Use a form at https://go.lacrossetribune.com/Photos and send photos our way. We’ll put them in galleries that we will share on social media, and we’ll publish some of them in our papers.
A Friendly smile
"I intended this to my likeness and a friendly everyday mask. I was disappointed when i received it. Frankly, it's ridiculous...so I'll give readers a good laugh."
October 6: GIrls WIAA Division 2 sectional golf
Aquinas’ Alexis Smith hits an approach shot at the WIAA Division 2 girls golf sectional at Drugan’s Castle Mound in Holmen.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska
The Onalaska dance team performs at halftime.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska
Masked spectators watch the game.
September 22: Aquinas vs Onalaska
JB Weiser makes a save for Aquinas.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
Aquinas’ Lauren Kelsey, left, and Victoria Nolte attempt a block on Westby’s Macy Stellner.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
Aquinas’ Victoria Nolte serves.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas
The Westby tem celebrates a point won.
Holmen school lunches
Heather Mathwig, right, and Analise Smith with the Holmen School District Nutrition Department bag individual pizzas at Holmen Middle School.
Noodles & Company
Menche Evans cooks in the kitchen at the new Noodles & Company in Onalaska.
September 10: Dover-Eyota vs. La Crescent-Hokah
La Crescent-Hokah girls soccer head coach Jake Smith talks with player Olivia Meyer.
Onalaska Football
Onalaska head coach Tom Yashinsky runs football practice.
College during COVID
Western Technical College student Emery Thompson has his temperature taken by human resources department employee Jackie Kettner before entering the bookstore.
College during COVID
Face mask wearing students walk to and from classes on the first day of the fall semester on the UW-La Crosse campus.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland
Attendees give applause during the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland
A woman in attendance for the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative with Vice President Mike Pence wears a patriotic facemask.
Scooping up smiles
Marty Diersen with the Sweet Shop hands a cone to Joy Benson, a member of Logan High School’s class of 1969, dressed as the children’s book character Raggedy Ann.
Rachel Mergen
News reporter
Winona Daily News reporter Rachel Mergen can be reached at 507-453-3522.
