AKRON, Ohio — 300 people managed to score appointments through the Summit County Health Department's website for Tuesday.
Summa Health and the National Guard are helping administer PCR tests, the more sensitive tests that are sent back to a lab for results.
"With the increased number of COVID cases in our community and with the understanding that it's going to go up, we are seeing extraordinary demand for testing," Mike Bernstein with Summa Health said.
Wednesday, we'll be seeing more mass testing in Summit and in Lake County.
The testing Wednesday at the Lake County Fairgrounds is first come, first serve with rapid tests available.
Epidemiologist Muhammad Jafar, who works for the Lake County General Health District, highlights the right "window" to take these tests for best results.
"If you're exposed to someone with COVID-19 do not go immediately and get tested. Wait 5 days and then you can use that at-home test kit or if you can get another test," Jafar said.
That five-day window is key if you're asymptomatic as we're seeing stores sold out of test kits and registrations for mass testing fill up quickly.
Protocol changes if you have symptoms.
"If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID 19 then you should immediately isolate yourself and see if you can get tested then," Jafar said.
That applies whether testing at home or getting tested at one of these drive-thru sites.
There should be more mass testing options becoming available.
While Tuesday was day one for Summit County, there are plans to expand to more days.
Beginning Sunday, January 2nd, the Akron site will run seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we do encourage people to check the website regularly," Bernstein said.
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