State Partnership Program

Video by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

Iowa Guard assists in setup of COVID test site in Sioux Center, Iowa

185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

May 27, 2020 | 1:29

Members of the Iowa Air and Army National Guard working with the Iowa department of public health set up a COVID-19 test site in the parking lot of the Sioux Center, Iowa middle School this week.

The Sioux Center location is one of a number of “TestIowa” sites that has been set up in Iowa since mid April. A key concern for the TestIowa initiative are communities that have meat processing plants in the state that is largely dependent on agriculture or Ag related business.

Iowa Air National Guard Master Sgt. Archie Kelly says the number of people tested at the test Iowa sites each day can vary widely.

Lower thirds: Master Sgt. Archie Kelly 185th Air Refueling Wing Iowa ANG
“We have seen anywhere from 50 to 200 a day at certain sites, so its a wide variety.”

At the Sioux Center location guard members are helping direct people through the drive through site where medical staff and guard medics are working together to administer tests.

“we want to be here for the people, we want to let them know that we are here, we hope that as many people that can come through and get tested, we want to get back to any kind of normal life as soon as we can”

Daly samples collected from the site are sent to the Iowa Hygienic Laboratory in Coralville, Iowa. The distance from test site to the lab makes the northwest Iowa location the most remote TestIowa site where testing is being done.

Officials at the Sioux Center site said National Guard members plan to provided manning for the test site in Sioux Center until next week but add that they are ready to stay longer if necessary.

in Sioux Center, Iowa i’m Senior master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

Lower thirds:
00:00:00- 00:00:10 - Sioux Center, Iowa
00:00:36- 00:00:42 - Sgt. Archie Kelly 185th Air Refueling Wing Iowa ANG
00:01:15- 00:01:26 - Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot reporting