State officials are expanding COVID-19 testing locations in eight Ohio cities, including Toledo.
Ohio Governor Mike De-Wine said Monday that the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio National Guard and the Ohio Hospital Association will open several new sites with Ohio National Guard personnel.
The locations, which are intended to divert testing traffic from hospital emergency rooms, come as the state is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 cases during the pandemic.
As of January 3, the Ohio Hospital Association reported a record-setting 6,177 inpatient hospitalizations.
“As the demand for COVID-19 testing increases, adding to the pressure our hospitals are facing, members of the Ohio National Guard will continue to play a critical role in the state’s response,” Governor DeWine said. “I commend Guard members for their commitment to their fellow Ohioans as they answer the call to serve.”
About 300 will provide support at the testing sites, which will be operated in partnership with Ohio hospitals and health networks.
The governor noted that the majority of Ohio National Guard members will remain in hospitals providing direct clinical care and non-clinical support.
Last week, he mobilized an additional 1,250 members to support Ohio hospitals experiencing the most critical needs across the state.
The total deployment of Guard members working with health care systems is 2,300.
The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Association are daily evaluating the situation in hospitals to assess and maximize staffing to ensure Guard members are assisting in locations with the most critical needs.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and testing needs change every day, and staffing adjustments are being made accordingly, the governor said.
At this time, the Ohio National Guard has been or soon will be deployed to the following locations.
Those now open:
•Walker Center at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, Cleveland.
•Atrium Testing Site at Summa Health, Akron.
•Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, CAS parking garage, Columbus.
Testing sites will be coming soon in Toledo, Canton, Zanesville, Mansfield, Chillicothe, Springfield, Cincinnati and Dayton.
The governor advised that maintaining up-to-date vaccination remains the best tool against COVID-19 hospitalization and death.
“As Ohio is experiencing 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,” he said.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the state at doctor’s offices, community vaccine clinics, hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies and more.
The Toledo Lucas County Health Department provides COVID-19 shots weekdays at their downtown office and at the Rec Center on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
