Amid the immense shortage of home COVID-19 tests due to demand, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said it will prioritize distribution to K-12 Schools, colleges and universities. The ODH emphasized the importance of COVID-19 tests to ensure in-person learning can continue safely in schools across the state. Until the supplies stabilize, the ODH will be pausing their shipments of tests to libraries and local health departments, to prioritize educational institutions. See ODH’s full statement here.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also announced that as of January 15th, it will require that over-the-counter, at home tests be covered by insurers and group health plans. HHS says it will require that 8 tests are covered per month for each individual, however if ordered by a healthcare provider, there will be no limit. For more information on HHS’s Coronavirus response, please visit their website.