Comedian Charlie Berens, UW System President Thompson urge use of free testing sites in new video

Courtesy: UW System

MADISON, Wis.— University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens, of The Manitowoc Minute, are urging state residents to obtain a free COVID-19 test at one of the state’s rapid-results “surge testing” sites.

In Thompson's latest “Smash COVID” video, he challenges Berens to a "smash-off," while reminding UW System students and others to get tested and to continue behaviors that prevent the spread of the disease, according to a UW System press release. 

“We all want to smash COVID, and I’m happy to join President Thompson in bringing attention to these free tests,” Berens said. “Keep ‘er Movin’ Wisconsin – through the COVID testing line.”

The UW System says more than 170,000 free tests using the Abbot BinaxNOW rapid-results antigen test have been administered at Wisconsin’s 22 surge testing sites since surge testing began in early November, identifying nearly 14,000 potential positive carriers of the virus who have been advised to isolate.

The release says testing sites will "likely be available through Jan. 23," with UW-Madison closing its sites on Jan. 7.

“With our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we began surge testing in early November when the virus was raging across Wisconsin,” Thompson said. “Since then, the number of cases in our state has been dropping, and surge testing has been a critical factor because we could quickly identify potential cases.”

Thompson and Berens filmed the latest “Smash COVID” video in downtown Waukesha and on the campus of UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha.

Thompson's other "Smash COVID" videos can be found here

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