“More testing gives us more data, which tells us a much more detailed story of how COVID-19 spreads within a community,” Hyson said. “It’s important to remember that just because things are reopening, (it) doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. It’s important to wear a masks when social distancing is not possible and to wash your hands frequently. But most importantly, please stay home if you are sick, unless you need medical care.”
Hyson said hospital capacity in southwest Ohio is doing well, but numbers are rising.
“For example, three weeks ago we had about 60 patients with COVID-19 in our southwest Ohio hospitals, now we are more than double that,” she said.
Pop-up testing this week is being offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m today at Mount Airy School, 5730 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati and at Forest Chapel United Methodist Church, 680 W Sharon Road, Cincinnati. Time to be determined by ODH. Pop-up testing will take place Thursday at Walmart, 1143 Smiley Road, Cincinnati, also at a time to be determined by ODH.
Testing is an important part of controlling the spread of COVID-19, which is why health networks continue to offer drive-thru testing throughout the region.
Kettering Health Network, which also is testing patients who are showing symptoms or coming in for procedures, continues to work with Governor DeWine to enhance testing capability for COVID-19 currently available at Fort Hamilton Hospital, according to to Dr. Jeffrey Weinstein, chief quality officer for Kettering Medical Center & Sycamore Medical Center
“While we are aware of the increase in COVID-19 cases in southwest Ohio, Fort Hamilton Hospital remains capable of caring for all patients, including those with coronavirus,” Weinstein said. “By practicing safety measures like hand-washing, social distancing and wearing masks, our communities and care teams alike can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that high-quality care remains available to the people of Butler and Warren counties.”
Mercy Health continues to offer COVID testing in Fairfield at 2960 Mack Road, Suite 101 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, according to Nanette Bentley, spokeswoman for the health.
“With the governor encouraging more people to get tested, we’ve seen a strong increase in patients and recommend that people give themselves an hour to complete their test,” Bentley said.
Atrium Medical Center in Middletown is testing all patients for COVID-19, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Burcham.
At this time, Premier Health hospitals do not offer walk-in COVID-19 tests, she said. Premier is offering such tests at UD Arena, 1801 Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. No appointment is needed but a doctor’s order is required.
The Christ Hospital Health Network is offering COVID-19 testing at its Liberty Twp. campus in the emergency department for both pre-op patients and those with symptoms, according to spokesman Bo McMillan. Both must have a doctor’s order for the test, McMillan said.
Butler County has had 1,365 confirmed and another 32 probable cases, for a total of 1,397. The county has had 44 deaths, according to the latest information available from the state of Ohio.
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