Ohio Health Dpt. to test 1,200 citizens at random for virus

Around 1,200 Ohioans might soon find out that they have been selected to be tested for the coronavirus as part of a statewide study.

The Ohio Department of Health plans to screen 1,200 residents in their homes for the virus through a nasal swab test and through an antibody blood test. Screen- ing could start as soon as next week, department spokes- woman Melanie Amato said via email.

The state hopes the random testing will provide a better idea of the spread of COVID-19 in Ohio.

Selected households will receive a postcard and a let- ter in the mail notifying them and providing a time frame when a team of state health department workers plans to visit them. During the in-per- son visit, one adult resident will be randomly picked to participate.

Participation is voluntary, Amato said, and the postcard and letter state that recipients may opt out by phone or email. Households also may decline to participate when the state work- ers arrive.

Households that decide against participating will be removed from the list of addresses and will not be contacted further, according to the state.

Other states have used randomized antibody testing to gauge how widespread COVID-19 is. In late April, New York state selected 3,000 people to randomly test for antibodies, and it found that 14% might have contracted the virus. The New York survey also determined that the COVID-19 death rate in that state might be around 0.5%.

Experts have said they are unsure whether people who have COVID-19 antibodies are immune to the disease and how long that potential immunity might last. If the presence of antibodies causes immunity, the people with the antibodies could be the first ones to re-enter society, Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, has said.

This week, businesses are expected to reopen after being shuttered for nearly two months.

Restaurants may seat people in outdoor spaces beginning Friday, and indoors beginning May 21. They are required to follow social distancing guidelines.

Servers will be required to wear face masks, but cooks and back-room employees are exempt. Guests may be asked to wear masks. Capacity limits could be imposed based on restaurant and bar space.