OSF HealthCare and the University of Illinois will expand the SHIELD CU COVID-19 testing program to testing sites at Parkland College beginning July 14.
The testing sites will be open at Parkland College in the M-4 parking lot tent, 2400 W Bradley Ave. in Champaign on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
Community members can also be tested at the State Farm Center, 1800 S. 1st St., in Champaign on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and Sundays from 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM.
Interested community members can be tested for COVID-19 through the SHIELD CU program at no cost. Insurance will not be billed.
SHIELD CU combines a non-invasive saliva-based test invented at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with comprehensive clinical support for participants. The program aims to reduce the community COVID-19 positivity rate and keep it low.
SHIELD CU participants have access to the innovative Safer Community app, which walks participants through the process. Safer Community is equipped to help participants find testing centers, learn the latest news about COVID-19 and its management, and receive their test results confidentially.
In the event of a positive COVID-19 test result, information will be provided about next steps. Participants with positive COVID-19 tests will also gain automatic access to appropriate OSF HealthCare COVID-19 solutions. Coupled with the 24/7/365 convenience of OSF OnCall Urgent Care offerings, patients in the Champaign Urbana area have the ability to receive care when and where they need it – in person or virtually.
Parkland College is the latest organization to participate in the SHIELD CU program. The original participants included students, teachers and staff at Urbana High School; Stratton Academy of the Arts, a public school in the Champaign Unit 4 School District; and employees of Champaign County. Also included in the initial launch were family and household members of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty, staff and students.
