Chicago COVID- 19 Testing Sites

As winter approaches, doctors are worried about not being able to tell the difference between COVID-19 and the common cold symptoms.

It is sweater weather time. Coming along with these fall and winter seasons is the common flu that most people have gotten before. This common flu, influenza, affects millions of people in the United States. It is not as severe due to its vaccine, and is not deadly towards the general public. With the emergence of COVID- 19, doctors predict a dilemma that has them worried.

The symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 overlap a great extent. Symptoms that overlap include coughing, fever, headaches, sore throat, fatigue, and many more. Click this link to look at the full list of similarities recorded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors recommend getting the flu vaccine as a means to protect oneself from the seasonal flu and potential confusion of the viruses.

In Chicago, CVS will be opening 250 positions to help with the increasing rates of demand for flu vaccines an COVID-19 tests. Positions include customer service, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and drive- thru testing services. The testing services, which are offered in many places throughout Chicago by different organizations, are seeing an increase in people showing up to their centers. While many people believe the increase in cases in Chicago are due to these centers, the Chicago Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady states that it is a false claim. Therefore, the test sites remain open for anyone to go to.

The map above shows the location of each of the 132 testing sites available throughout the communities of Chicago. Some of them are free, do not need appointments, or have drive- thru actions. For more information on each testing site, the map gives the website and phone number when the icon for the specific center is clicked on. The information was taken from the City of Chicago Data Portal.