Ohio orders 2 million rapid COVID-19 tests for local health departments

The state of Ohio entered a deal with two health care companies to purchase at least 2 million rapid antigen coronavirus tests to distribute to local health departments for broader use, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday (Source: “Ohio to purchase 2 million rapid coronavirus tests to send to local health departments,” Cleveland.com, Jan. 21).

DeWine described the $50 million deal with Abbott Pharmaceuticals and eMed as a significant expansion of testing for the public that will make the instant tests more widely available, providing a tool for local health departments to respond to potential outbreaks in communities. Along with the tests from Abbott, eMed will also provide telehealth services for anyone who takes one.

“We have used CARES Act dollars and this will make testing more broadly available,” DeWine said. “We’ve given local health departments some broad guidelines. We’ve asked them to make the test widely available in their communities.”