SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council are sending $1.4 million in federal CARES Act funding to Summit County Public Health (SCPH) for the development of a county-wide COVID-19 mass testing program. This allocation of funding comes in response to a need for increased community testing capability.
“As we learn more about COVID-19 and how it spreads in communities, we have identified mass testing as a critical tool needed to contain this virus,” said Executive Shapiro. “A county-wide mass testing program will help our public health experts identify cases and mitigate the risk of hotspots or outbreaks. Summit County Public Health has been leading our community through this public health emergency from the start and will continue to lead with this testing program.”
SCPH will use the funds to pay for the cost of equipment, necessary materials, personnel and other supplies needed to operate the mass testing program. The funding will also be used to cover laboratory costs for increased testing capability. The current level of 200 tests per day will be increased to 400 to 450 tests per day.
“Summit County Public Health is grateful for Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council’s support in helping to facilitate testing of the most vulnerable populations in Summit County through funding support for our mass testing program. Testing is an important step in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Summit County,” said Donna Skoda, Health Commissioner Summit County Public Health
Several at-risk groups such as individuals living in congregate living situations, Veteran’s homes and homeless and domestic violence shelters have been identified as initial targets of the mass testing program. SCPH will also develop a testing plan for outbreaks in workplaces and among essential employees like public safety, transportation and critical infrastructure personnel.
In addition to testing, SCPH urges residents to continue to follow standard precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Steps that residents can take to slow the spread of the virus include:
- Maintain a six-foot distance from other individuals.
- Always wear a cloth face covering when out in public.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth – with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you have cold- or flu-like symptoms, for seven days after your illness onset or three days after your fever resolves without fever reducing medicine, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
For more information about the coronavirus situation in Summit County visit https://www.scph.org/covid-19. If you have questions, call the COVID-19 Call Line at 330-926-5795. The call line is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
