MANSFIELD — The demand for COVID-19 testing is at an all-time high in Richland County.
Richland Public Health currently has a supply of free testing kits available, communications specialist Reed Richmond said.
“We have a good supply but are asking the public to take one per customer or per family member,” Richmond said.
COVID-19 tests are also available through a number of healthcare providers, including urgent cares and community health centers like Third Street Family Health Services. These providers may require an appointment and charge accordingly.
Individuals with mild symptoms or no symptoms are encouraged to look for COVID-19 tests elsewhere before visiting an urgent care or emergency room. The Ohio Department of Health website offers a list of COVID-19 testing providers on its Testing and Community Health Centers page.
The demand for testing is very high, so calling ahead is recommended to make sure there are still tests available.
Emergency rooms have begun to limit their COVID-19 testing to patients due to the limited supply of tests.
“Our emergency departments and urgent cares have noticed an increase of patients who would like to be tested for COVID-19,” said Gavin Baumgardner, vice president of clinical affairs at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital and OhioHealth Shelby Hospital.
“Due to the worldwide shortage of rapid COVID-19 tests, we are being judicious with the usage of these tests and are reserving them for hospitalized patients.
“If the general public needs a COVID-19 test but does not have symptoms nor needs medical care, we suggest visiting a retail pharmacy, public library or health department that offers on-site or at-home tests.”
Kim Winkle, vice president of corporate relations for Avita Health System, stated that Avita is also seeing a record number of patients in our emergency departments seeking COVID-19 testing.
She too encouraged anyone without symptoms to seek testing outside of the emergency room or urgent care.
“If a patient feels they need emergency care at any point, they should seek services at their nearest emergency department,” she said.
Where else can I find a test?
Free tests are available through Richland Public Health and local libraries on a limited basis.
After the Ohio Department of Health announced that rapid tests were available for free at local libraries, kits “flew off the shelves” according to a 2-1-1 employee. Libraries are currently waiting to be restocked by the Ohio Department of Health.
Director Chris May of the Mansfield Richland County Public Library said the library system is currently waiting for its third batch of rapid at-home tests to distribute.
“I know that the Ohio Department of Health is sending us about another one thousand or so, which is actually about half of what I ordered,” he said. “The demand is so high they’re just sending me that many at a time.”
MRCPL will update the top of its homepage when tests become available. May hopes tests will come in by early next week, but did not have definitive tracking information available.
Tests are distributed between MRCPL’s branches. Whenever a new shipment comes in, tests go quickly.
“They’ve lasted a day or two each time,” May said. “Anecdotally, the staff has noticed that it’s been a wide range and it’s been high demand in all of our locations.”
CVS and Rite Aid both offer free drive-thru testing, though results may take 48 hours or longer.
For those willing to pay for a test, rapid at-home and mail-in options may be available for sale through retailers like CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Optum, Amazon, Rite Aid and Kroger. Many of these tests are HSA and FSA eligible.
Avita Health System offers self-pay COVID-19 testing to people without symptoms. Those seeking a test can schedule an appointment at one of Avita’s testing sites by calling 419-462-3437.
Did we miss a COVID-19 testing site? Let us know by emailing katie.ellington@richlandsource.com.
