Governor Mike DeWine has deployed Ohio National guard troops to support COVID-19 testing locations across the state, including a site at the Maumee Rec Center on Key Street in Maumee.
“We are grateful that National Guard members are continuing to fill critical roles in our state's response to this pandemic, especially as the strain on our health care providers continues,” said Governor DeWine. “As cases increase across the state, the best thing Ohioans can do is to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine.”
The National Guard is now supporting a dozen testing locations throughout the state as part of ongoing efforts to ease some of the burden on the state’s hardest-hit hospitals as Ohio is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 driven inpatient hospitalizations, ICU admissions and patients on ventilators since the onset of the pandemic.
As of January 11, the Ohio Hospital Association reported 6,727 inpatient hospitalizations.
The total deployment of National Guard members working with Ohio’s healthcare systems is now at 2,300 members. This includes approximately 200 Guard members offering medical support, and approximately 2,100 offering general support, including testing, food services, in-hospital patient transportation, administrative tasks and more.
“Setting up testing locations helps to divert testing traffic from hospital emergency rooms,” explained said Major General John Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general. He noted that since launching the Walker Testing Center in Cleveland, more than 22,000 people have been tested, averaging more than 1,100 people daily. “‘Ohio hospitals appreciate
“‘Ohio hospitals appreciate the continued support and service of the Ohio National Guard during this critical time of healthcare need related to COVID-19. The testing locations organized by the Guard and hospitals have been extremely important to provide this dedicated service to give better access to testing while alleviating demand of hospitals’ emergency departments. We will continue to assess daily the needs for testing and the best utilization of Guard support during this surge,’according to a statement from the Ohio Hospital Association,” he added.
Gov. DeWine continues to encourage Ohioans to get vaccinated. “As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, maintaining up-to-date vaccination remains the best tool against COVID-19 hospitalization and death.”
With record-setting hospitalizations amid the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants, it’s critical that Ohioans follow prevention strategies including getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot if eligible, wearing face masks, washing hands frequently, getting tested, and staying home if sick, even if symptoms are mild, the governor said.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the state at doctor’s offices, community vaccine clinics, hospitals, community health centers and pharmacies.
Many providers offer walkin appointments, or Ohioans can schedule a vaccination appointment at gettheshot. coronavirus.ohio.gov.
To learn more about COVID-19 testing, and the safety, efficacy, and side effects of the vaccines, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine.
