WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tiffany Nelson of Manawa wanted to make sure she was in the clear for COVID-19. She headed to the Waupaca County site to find out for sure.
“Fortunately, for me, my test did come back negative, so I am okay, but you never know,” Nelson said.
Nelson’s confidence in the results was shaken.
“I don’t think I could ever feel confident, knowing that I had somebody potentially contaminating my test,” she said.
This coming after seeing something she never thought she would.
“I could physically see with my own eyes that there was the potential for contamination,” said Nelson.
Nelson says she noticed at least three workers, without face masks at the test site. But something else shocked her even more.
“It was a package of gummy worms that he then proceeded to eat at the table where they had the testing being done, and they were taking all of the samples,” she explained.
That’s when Nelson got out her phone and snapped some pictures.
“When you are eating food, you are spitting particles out everywhere you’re eating, and they had the testing results right there that they were packaging, putting in the bags and labeling,” said Nelson.
The Wisconsin National Guard confirms members were staffing the site that day, but it can’t confirm if the man in Nelson’s photos is a Guard member, because he’s not in uniform.
“It’s very difficult to tell from a photo if somebody’s a member of our organization,” said Maj. Joe Trovato, spokesperson for the Wisconsin National Guard. “At the same time, patient safety, individual safety and the safety of our own service members is of critical importance.”
The National Guard says the guidance given to all troops at any testing site is that face masks should be worn at all times, unless eating or drinking, and that food should not be consumed, while in the testing area.
“We try to put as many measures in place to ensure that everybody stays as safe as possible, in some very trying times,” Trovato said.
The National Guard says test results couldn’t be contaminated, because all test kits are sealed before and immediately after the swab.
Still, Nelson believes
“If we don’t come together and wear our masks, we are never going to beat COVID-19.”
FOX 11 reached out to the Waupaca County Public Health Department for comment, but did not hear back.
