testing – CU-CitizenAccess.org

A tent and signs indicate a Covid-19 testing site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Alice Campbell Alumni Center on Friday, July 31, 2020. The University is conducting free saliva tests for faculty, staff and students with results typically known within 48 hours.

COVID’s toll in Champaign County as emergency ends: 325 deaths, 86,946 cases, unknown number of long haulers

Post author:Carmen Martinez / For CU-CitizenAccess and Yuzhu Liu / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:May 12, 2023
Post category:CU-Covid19 Public Health

As the COVID-19 pandemic emergency measures ended this month, Champaign County had reported 325 COVID-related deaths from 86,946 cases over the past three years.…

University of Illinois

The logo for the University of Illinois's COVID-19 SHIELD saliva-based testing.

The story behind the race to test for COVID-19 at the University of Illinois

Post author:Raleigh Butler / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:January 12, 2022
Post category:CU-Covid19 Education Public Health

It was late the evening of April 22, 2020 when Martin Burke, a then 44-year-old professor of chemistry, received a phone call from the university provost. The provost, Andreas Cangellaris, requested that Burke develop a COVID-19 testing program for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. Over the next week, Burke gathered eight more team members, forming the founding members of what was known as the SHIELD team. The first SHIELD meeting was held on April 30, 2020, just eight days after the Provost’s call.

Read more about the article COVID-19 Testing Accessibility: Disparities, Barriers and Plans For Future

CU-CitizenAccess

Cars in line at the Marketplace mall COVID-19 testing center in mid-November. When a car reaches the end of the line, a worker guides them through a 20-second, self-administered nasal swab.

COVID-19 Testing Accessibility: Disparities, Barriers and Plans For Future

Post author:Casey Daly / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:November 18, 2020
Post category:CU-Covid19 Public Health

There has been concern nationally about the ability of people of color to get tested for COVID-19, especially because they have been identified as more vulnerable to the virus. Melaney Arnold, public health information officer at the Illinois Department of Public Health, wrote in an email, “The data show Black and Hispanic populations are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.”

Read more about the article Newborn genetic testing bill on Rauner’s desk after long delay

Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org

University of Illinois student Nicky Piunti on campus on May 8. Piunti is taking a new drug, Spinraza, that benefits some patients with SMA.

Newborn genetic testing bill on Rauner’s desk after long delay

Post author:Aly May / For CU-CitizenAccess
Post published:May 23, 2018
Post category:Health Care

The Illinois legislature is sending a bill to Governor Bruce Rauner that requires the state to screen newborns for a genetic neurological muscle disease…