COLUMBUS – Governor DeWine announced on Thursday that Ohio is expanding its COVID-19 testing to include anyone, including those who are at low-risk or asymptomatic.
He encouraged those who want a COVID-19 test to talk with their health care provider or contact a testing location to arrange a test.
Testing is available at community health centers, retailers such as CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger and Walmart stores, as well as a series of “pop-up” testing locations.
The first six locations are scheduled for Friday in Columbus (see illustration).
Temporary testing sites will be available all over the state, including in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Portsmouth, Dayton, Xenia, Columbiana, Akron, and other locations.
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DeWine also announced that the rate of infection in Ohio was reduced in late May and early June.
The R0 number, which represents the number of people, on average, that a person will spread a disease to was estimated to be 2.5 for the coronavirus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was slightly lower than 1.0 in Ohio, the state recorded a slight increase in parts of the state such as the Dayton area, where the R0 number was 1.07.
Central Ohio’s RO (“R naught” number was 0.91.
The state reported 424 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday for a total of 40,848 confirmed and probable cases with 2,554 deaths.
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Upcoming legislation before Columbus City Council will provide $17.2 million in funding for 44 human services organizations, money from the federal CARES Act which will fully fund the programs.
The total includes a $2.2 million supplement for bed tax revenue lost to the city as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which shut down hotels and caused the cancelation of events and conventions.
Fifteen million dollars will be used for COVID-19 support grants focused on meeting basic needs, such as food and housing, as well as increasing the capacity of human service agencies.
The federal coronavirus rescue package provided $157 million to the city for expenditures directly related to the response to COVID-19, human services and economic recovery.
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The Columbus Metropolitan Library is expanding its curbside pickup service to the Canal Winchester Branch, 115 Franklin Street, starting Monday, bring the total number of branches offering curbside pickup to 14.
Hours for the Canal Winchester Branch pickup service are Monday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., with no service on Sunday.
The library currently offers curbside pickup at its Dublin, Gahanna, Hilliard, Karl Road, New Albany, Northern Lights, Northside, Parsons, Reynoldsburg, Shepard, Southeast, Whetstone and Whitehall branches.
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Due to the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Columbus Symphony has canceled the 2020 Nationwide Picnic with the Pops, its annual outdoor summer series at the Columbus Commons, and the 2020 Popcorn Pops, its outdoor summer series for kids.