Coronavirus In Ohio: COVID-19 Tests Available To All Ohioans

COLUMBUS, OH — Anyone who wants a test for the new coronavirus can now get one in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. Ohioans who do not have symptoms of the virus can now receive a test due to the state's expanded testing capacities, the governor announced.

"We would encourage you, if you want to, to get a [COVID-19] test," DeWine said. He then encouraged Ohioans to contact their healthcare provider or a testing site to arrange a test.

The governor said understanding who currently has the virus is key to halting its spread.

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Ohio recently uploaded a map of testing sites and health centers throughout the state. Ohioans can contact those facilities and attempt to arrange a COVID-19 test.

State officials are launching pop-up COVID-19 testing sites in major metropolitan areas, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Xenia, Portsmouth, Columbiana, Akron, and elsewhere. Columbus will host the first pop-up testing sites on Friday.

Thursday's COVID-19 Numbers

Ohio surpassed 40,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the state health department announced. In the past 24 hours, there have been 429 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 33 deaths, 60 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and 18 people admitted into intensive care due to the virus.

This is the second straight day that COVID-19 cases have increased. On Wednesday, the state confirmed 413 new cases of the virus. On Tuesday, health officials confirmed 325 COVID-19 cases.

Since the start of the outbreak, nearly 2,500 Ohioans have died due to complications caused by COVID-19.

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