CLEVELAND — Amid a huge demand for testing, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has announced a new registration procedure for the Cleveland Community COVID-19 test site in University Circle.
Those individuals wanting tests will now need to register for a scheduled appointment time by clicking here. The schedule for next week is now open. Once an appointment time is confirmed, individuals will be prompted to register with Mako labs. You must have a confirmed appointment time and a QR code from MAKO to be tested, even if you have previously registered.
The site will be open next week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Sunday, but will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 1. The on-site, drive-thru testing is located in the garage of the W. O. Walker Building at 10524 Euclid Avenue.
The ODH says it will be unable to accommodate any unscheduled patients. Also, you are asked not to arrive more than 15 minutes early for your test due to the high demand.
Individuals 2 years and older are able to register. The site will offer free PCR testing, and individuals will receive their results in approximately 2-3 days. Masks are required except when testing is underway.
More than 1,000 people were tested on Tuesday at the site. By noon, the line was cut short as the testing center reached its capacity.
"The fact that it was so overwhelmed, so quickly, is a great indication of how extreme the situation is," Ohio National Guard Maj. Gen. John Harris explained during a Tuesday afternoon briefing. "The line was cut down after three hours because it was disrupting traffic."
If you are unable to register at the Cleveland Community COVID-19 Testing site, you are encouraged to find a COVID-19 test at a local retail pharmacy, doctor’s office, community health center, or urgent care center. Visit the Coronavirus.Ohio.gov to find a testing center near you.
Rapid testing kits are available for purchase at groceries and pharmacies, and for free at many local health departments and public libraries. Please do not go to an emergency department for COVID-19 testing.
The Walker Community COVID-19 Testing site is led by the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio National Guard and supported by Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.
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