AKRON, Ohio — More COVID-19 testing capabilities are being created in Summit County as Cleveland Clinic Akron General plans to open a new testing facility near downtown Akron in the coming weeks.
In mid-June, tentatively, patients will have the ability to walk inside the new facility and receive a COVID-19 test with a doctor’s note and a scheduled appointment.
Minorities account for nearly 20% of the total Summit County population, according to Summit County Public Health officials, and nearly 40% of positive COVID-19 cases.
“It’s about 18 to 19% minorities, but yet we have about double that in cases,” Donna Skoda said. “So it immediately makes you wonder, why more?”
Brian Harte, President of Cleveland Clinic Akron General, said the pandemic has further highlighted hardships for those living in minority communities.
“COVID-19 has simply brought those healthcare disparities and inequities even more to the fore,” Harte said. “And so the ability to test in that community as the state priorities and guidelines allow us to will be instrumental in helping us manage the disease throughout the Akron community.”
A nationwide shortage of COVID-19 tests has forced counties across Ohio to prioritize who has access to tests, according to age and pre-existing health conditions.
“That was put in place to protect the few tests we had,” Skoda said. “And it’s unfortunate that we haven’t had more large-scale testing available.”
Community leaders have looked to Governor Mike DeWine for advisement regarding who qualifies for a COVID-19 test.
“Who should be tested? When? If we can provide the means to run the tests, we need some help in terms of getting as much into the community as possible,” Harte said.
Summit County health officials are confident the opening of the new Akron testing facility will increase the accuracy of reported cases in the region.
“Although it is still with appointments and doctor’s notes, we’re hoping that very soon the state lifts our restrictions on who we can use our tests on and we’ll be able to do more mass testing,” Skoda said.
The new testing facility, which has yet to open, is located at 676 South Broadway Avenue in Akron.
