MILWAUKEE — Gov. Tony Evers' administration confirmed Tuesday that Wisconsin is receiving 1,750,000 BinaxNOW COVID-19 tests from the federal government.
BinaxNOW tests are antigen tests that can diagnose coronavirus infections in as little as fifteen minutes, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS made the announcement Monday, and state health officials confirmed Wisconsin is receiving the tests during a COVID-19 press conference Tuesday.
The State of Wisconsin has so far sent BinaxNOW tests to long-term care facilities and about 208,000 tests to hospitals across the state, according to preliminary feedback sent by the state of Wisconsin to HHS.
Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Brett Giroir added in a statement Monday that the BinaxNOW tests are not a substitute to regular COVID-19 safety protocol, such as wearing a mask, washing your hands and maintaining social distancing.
“Combining personal responsibility with smart testing is a foundational pillar of the Administration’s national testing strategy," Giroir wrote.
The federal government purchased 150 million units of the antigen tests from Abbott BinaxNOW last August, and is now distributing the tests to Wisconsin and other states as they struggle to keep coronavirus cases down amid the pandemic.