Shelby Daily Globe

Ohio expands COVID-19 testing locations with support from Ohio National Guard

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike Dewine today announced additional Guard deployment­s to support COVID19 testing locations across the state, including three testing locations in Cincinnati.

“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 12 testing locations across 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 seen throughout the pandemic. Today, the Ohio Hospital Associatio­n reported 6,727 inpatient hospitaliz­ations.

At this time, the Ohio National Guard has been deployed to support the following testing locations:

Akron: Atrium Testing Site (Summa Health), 1077 Gorge Blvd., Akron.

Canton: (Aultman/ Cleveland Clinic Mercy), Stark County Fairground­s, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton

Chillicoth­e: Adena Regional Medical Center, 272 Hospital Road,

Chillicoth­e

Cleveland: Walker Center (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals), 10524 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Columbus: (Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), first floor of the CAS parking garage at 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus.

Dayton: (Premier Health) Miami Valley Hospital, 1 Wyoming St., Dayton

Mansfield: Avita Ontario Hospital, 715 Richland Mall, Mansfield

Maumee: Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee

Zanesville: Genesis Hospital, 2951 Maple Ave., Zanesville

Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratori­es), Crossroads Church, 990 Reading Road, Mason

Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratori­es), Riverbend, 6201 Kellogg Ave.

Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati, 321 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati. COMING SOON: Dayton: Dayton Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Plaza, Dayton

“Our men and women are supporting about a dozen testing sites throughout Ohio, helping to provide additional opportunit­ies for our fellow Ohioans to be tested for COVID-19. We have been fulfilling COVID-19 missions for more than 20 months, and we are committed to supporting our state during this time of need,” said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general.

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.

The testing locations are helping to divert testing traffic from hospital emergency rooms. For example, since the launch of the Walker Testing Center in Cleveland, more than 22,000 people have been tested, averaging more than 1,100 people daily.

“Ohio hospitals appreciate the continued support and service of the Ohio National Guard during this critical time of healthcare need related to COVID19. 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.

The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Associatio­n are evaluating the situation in Ohio’s hospitals daily to assess and maximize staffing to ensure Guard members are assisting in locations with the most critical needs. Hospitaliz­ations for COVID-19 and NONCOVID-19 patients and testing needs change every day, and staffing adjustment­s are being made accordingl­y.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, 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.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the state at doctor’s offices, community vaccine clinics, hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies, and more.

Statewide, many providers offer walk-in appointmen­ts, or Ohioans can schedule a vaccinatio­n appointmen­t at gettheshot.coronaviru­s.ohio. gov. Ohioans who want to learn more about COVID19 testing, and the safety, efficacy, and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines should talk to their doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, or visit coronaviru­s.ohio.gov/ vaccine.

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