LORAIN, Ohio — As communities across Northeast Ohio continue to try and expand COVID-19 testing options, Lorain County will be offering free tests at one of its local health centers on New Year's Eve.
Residents will be able to get rapid tests at Lorain County Health & Dentistry this Friday from 7:30-11:30 a.m. No pre-registration is required, but patients must drive up in their cars, where a medical professional will give them a nasal swab.
LCH&D President and CEO Stephanie Wiersma issued the following statement:
"Lorain County Health & Dentistry has held several community-wide COVID-19 Rapid Test events, and all were successful. The highly transmissible omicron variant has sparked increased demand for testing. Our event is in response to that demand. We are prepared to administer 500 tests and expect to see a high positivity rate. We will urge those who test positive to isolate to slow the spread of the virus and protect others."
The drive-thru antigen tests will be able to give people results within 30 minutes, even if they are asymptomatic. A doctor's note is not required to receive a swab.
"Families or groups who visited together over the Christmas holidays may have been exposed to the virus which would show reliably in a positive test result about a week later," Wiserma said. "Friday's event is timed to help those individuals and prior to New Year’s Eve festivities."
Lorain County Health & Dentistry is located on Broadway Avenue between Streator Park and the Black River in Lorain. For more information, call (440) 240-1655.