At-home COVID-19 test kits provide quick screens

Lorain County Public Health (LCPH), Lorain County Urban League, El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. and select Lorain County libraries have partnered to distribute at-home coronavirus test kits.

The at-home antigen test kit is a helpful screening tool for people who are currently sick with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms, or for asymptomatic people with a recent COVID-19 exposure, according to a news release from the health department.

BinaxNow COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are free and available to pick up at 15 locations:

• Avon Branch, 37485 Harvest Drive in Avon, 440934-4743

• Columbia Branch, 13824 W. River Road North in Columbia Station, 440236-8751

• Domonkas Branch, 4125 E. Lake Road in Sheffield Lake, 440-949-7410

• El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc., 2800 Pearl Ave. in Lorain, 440-2778235

• Elyria Branch Central, after Oct. 4, 211 Second St. in Elyria, 440-323-5747

• Grafton-Midview Branch, 983 Main St. in Grafton, 440-926-3317

• Herrick Memorial Library, 101 Willard Memorial Square in Wellington, 440-647-2120

• Keystone-LaGrange Branch, after Oct. 4, 133 E. Commerce Drive in LaGrange, 440-322-0119

• Lorain County Urban League, 200 Middle Ave. Suite 200 in Elyria, 440323-3364

• Lorain Main Library, 351 W. Sixth St. in Lorain, 440-244-1192

• North Ridgeville Branch, 35700 Bainbridge Road in North Ridgeville, 440-327-8326

• Oberlin Public Library, 65 S. Main St. in Oberlin, 440-775-4790

• South Lorain Branch, 2121 Homewood Drive in Lorain, 440-277-5672

• South Elyria Branch, after Oct. 4, 340 15th St. in Elyria, 440-323-7519

• West River Branch, after Oct. 4, 1194 W. River Road North in Elyria, 440324-2270

“Antigen test kits are best used as screening tools,” said Dave Covell, Lorain County Public Health commissioner. “It is recommended that you ask a healthcare provider for a confirmatory PCR test if you get a positive home test kit result.”

To get a kit, visit a location near you.

Supply may be limited. In order to use these test kits, you must:

• Have mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms

• Have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days

• Live or work in Lorain County

• Have access to the internet

• Have either a smartphone or tablet with a camera or a computer with a webcam

• If younger than the age of 18, you must have an adult administer the test.

If results of the at-home antigen test are positive, the health department encourages those people to:

• Schedule a PCR test to confirm your results

• Stay home and isolate yourself from household members

• Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep 6 feet away from people

For local, up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit LorainCountyHealth. com/coronavirus.