COVID-19 tests becoming more widely available

Updates: Lorain County Health & Dentistry sent a press release today indicating it will begin testing June 1, by appointment only, for medical patients. CVS also announced today it has expanded COVID-19 testing to 13 locations in Greater Cleveland, and plans to have testing at 1,000 sites nationwide by the end of June. None of the CVS stores that will offer testing are in Lorain County; the closest is on Lorain Road in North Olmsted. When all hell broke loose in mid-March, your chances of getting tested for COVID-19 were pretty slim, even if you were coughing and hacking and worried you might have the virus. A lot has changed in two months, Lorain County Public Health Commissioner David Covell said. Now local hospital systems have "a significant amount of testing capacity," he said, and the strict rules about who can be tested have been relaxed. Let's say you've got a fever, sore throat and body aches — Mercy Health Allen Hospital in Oberlin accepts walk-ins at its flu clinic and will screen for symptoms that could be coronavirus red flags. Tents that were erected to keep potential cases outside have been taken down. "Essentially what we've done is take the flu clinic that was outside the hospital and move it inside the hospital," Mercy spokesman Jonathon Fauvie said. That doesn't mean everyone who goes to the flu clinic will get a COVID-19 test: "They're still mostly using it for symptomatic people or people who are high risk," Covell said. Hospitals countywide are now testing all patients who undergo any procedure, even if they don't show symptoms, he said. To receive a COVID-19 test from University Hospitals, a physician's order is still required. The first step is making an appointment with your doctor or video conferencing with health care experts at virtualvisit.uhhospitals.org. "Any patient who suspects they may have coronavirus due to their symptoms or recent travel history may contact their University Hospitals health care provider," said a statement provided by spokeswoman Kristen Kutina. "The provider will determine their risk, the level of care they need, and whether or not a COVID-19 test is needed." Drive-through patient testing will be available starting June 1, at the UH Avon Health Center emergency department carport. It will be noon to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Cleveland Clinic offers drive-up testing at select sites in Northeast Ohio with a doctor's order. The service isn't for everyone — it's for symptomatic patients who are either 36 months old or younger, at least 61, or who have had contact with a known COVID-19 patient. Regardless of age, tests may be available to people with heart or lung disease, kidney failure, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants or who are on immunosuppressive therapy. Testing priorities In Ohio, COVID-19 tests are still going first to people who are hospitalized and health care workers, Gov. Mike DeWine's office said Thursday. Because tests are more available, changes are being made to who should be tested next, based on the advice of clinical experts. Second-highest on the list are residents of long-term care and group homes, police, firefighters, paramedics, public health workers and people whose jobs are critical to the functioning of the state. The group also takes in seniors ages 65 and older, as well as people with underlying medical conditions. The state says racial and ethnic minorities with serious health needs should also be given priority for testing, since they are at an increased risk for COVID-19. The third tier for testing priority are people who are getting essential surgeries and procedures, whether they have symptoms or not. "Expanded test availability will allow individuals in lower-risk tiers to be tested and to help further contain and respond to COVID-19 in Ohio," DeWine said. Other options Pharmacies are starting to make tests available as well, though there don't appear to be any participating stores in Lorain County. Rite Aid offers tests at no cost for adults in Parma, Holland, Girard and Akron through its "Project Baseline." You must schedule an appointment and complete a prescreening online. Walgreens has also started testing in a partnership with LabCorp, a private laboratory company, but so far that service is available in 16 states not including Ohio. The closest are Michigan and Kentucky. Similarly, CVS has launched drive-up testing for free in some states — and again, Ohio isn't on the list yet. The closest locations are in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Quest Diagnostics offers swab and blood tests in a variety of ways that still require a doctor's order. Results are typically available in three days. The company says on its website that it's steadily increased testing capacity since March 9 and so far has processed more than 940,000 active infection tests. It can run up to 50,000 per day if needed. Updated state rules were announced Thursday to allow pharmacies to order and administrate tests for COVID-19, so expect more locations to start offering those services. "As front-line health care providers, pharmacies are critical in our state's response to this pandemic," DeWine said. "I have asked the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to make sure that Ohio pharmacies have what they need to test for COVID-19." The state also unveiled a county-by-county map Thursday at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov to show the locations of private testing centers. It showed none in Lorain County on launch day. Several Lorain County Health & Dentistry locations appear on the map as community health centers, but the nonprofit is not offering testing. Nasal vs. antibody There are two types of tests. The first is done nasally, and isn't comfortable. A swab on a long stick is inserted through the nostril and pushed back into your face to collect a mucus sample. The swab is going to slide and push against the back of your throat and may make you gag. Covell said the nasal swab is only for people who have symptoms, and it's not worth the time and discomfort if you're asymptomatic. If you've been exposed to COVID-19, your body will try to fight it off by manufacturing its own microscopic defenders. So the second type of test looks for those antibodies in your blood. It's not as accurate as the nasal version, said Covell, and he doesn't recommend going the antibody test route until it's improved. Either way, if your test comes back negative it's sure to give some peace of mind. But Covell said it's important to remember those results are only good for one day — tomorrow you could contract the virus. What's next? Even with more testing being done, the number of new cases in Lorain County hasn't exploded, Covell said. The state's strict quarantine rules have been effective. Fears of a "surge" in late April to mid-May were allayed as social distancing measures and business closures helped keep the infection from spreading. Dr. Amy Acton, who heads the Ohio Department of Health, had at one point predicted 10,000 new cases per day across the state without strict measures in place. Covell seemed relieved Wednesday discussing the curve, but said the danger isn't over. "The first week in June is when we're going to see something if we're going to," he said. County health experts are watching to see whether the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths stay steady or sharply rise as businesses reopen. Covell said hospitals are also on alert and much better prepared than they were two months ago. Bed capacity is not an issue right now, he said. If the gradual reopening doesn't result in an explosion of cases by mid-June, it will mean restrictions on Ohioans can be pulled back even more. But Covell said residents won't be able to breathe safely until a vaccine is widely available and there is complete herd immunity. "I think we will have a vaccine as early as this fall," he said. "Now, that's a little optimistic, but I think we will." At the latest, he believes a vaccine will be available to the public in January. In the meantime, he said, it's just as important as ever to keep a 6-foot distance from each other, cover your mouth when you cough and frequently wash your hands. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.