Markham Community Based Testing Site to Move to South Holland as Business Services Resume in Phase 3 of Restore Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Phase 3 of Restore Illinois is expected to bring approximately 700,000 Illinoisans back to the workplace, and with that comes the restoration of additional state services. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will resume vehicle emission testing on June 1.  To ensure these services are available to the public, the final day of testing at the Markham Community Based Testing Site will be May 30. These services will be relocated to South Suburban College in South Holland, and will start testing patient on June 1. 

“We are grateful to our colleagues at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the property owners for the extended use of these facilities to provide a critical service for the community,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. “These COVID-19 testing services will remain available and accessible to the residents of these communities.  We continue to urge the public to utilize these services to ensure greater understanding of the prevalence of the virus in our community.” 

All individuals with symptoms are encouraged to seek testing at these Community Based Testing Sites. Additional accommodations have been made for the following individuals with or without COVID-like symptoms.

• Healthcare workers
• First Responders
• Employees of Correctional Facilities
• Individuals exposed to confirmed COVID-19 patients
  
• Employees that support Critical Infrastructure (grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, factories, childcare and sanitation)
  
• All local and state government employees
  
• Individuals with compromised immune systems, chronic medical conditions

• Fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell

This is a free service that can be obtained without a doctor’s referral.  While this is a free service, you will be asked to show 1) photo identification and 2) healthcare employee or first responder ID/badge, if applicable.

Patients utilizing drive-thru testing sites must be seated at a functioning window. Once you get in line at the CBTS, you will not be permitted to exit your car. For the safety of the testing personnel, drive-thru sites will not be able to accommodate walk-up individuals. Walk-up testing services are only available in Peoria and East St. Louis, at this time. Individuals who utilize the walk-up facilities will be required to use a face covering at the testing site. 

Due to the demand for this service, we anticipate there could be significant wait times associated with these drive-thru community-based testing sites. Please be patient. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, you are urged to call your doctor or emergency department to seek immediate care and instructions.

Dozens of additional commercial testing sites are also available throughout the state further adding to the state’s testing capacity. For the most up-to-date list of these sites, visit Coronavirus Response Testing Sites. There residents can also find information on eligibility for testing and contact information for each testing site.

For additional information related to COVID-19, please visit IDPH Site.

You can also get your COVID-19 questions answered at any time of day by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931. You can also email you questions to DPH.Sick@Illinois.gov.