3.5 million rapid COVID-19 tests being sent to Ohio, with results known in as little as 15 minutes

OHIO — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sending 3.52 million Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid tests to Ohio as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to combat the pandemic.

The tests were purchased by the federal government on Aug. 27, according to the White House.

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“Now that initial distribution of these tests to all 50 states and the District of Columbia is well underway, it ensures the nation’s governors will not have to compete for the initial BinaxNOW shipments, or waste precious time to set up individual purchasing contracts with the manufacturer,” the White House said.

The rapid point-of-care tests can diagnose a coronavirus infection in as little as 15 minutes.

The tests will be distributed at the discretion of Gov. Mike DeWine with a focus to support testing of K-12 students, teachers, nursing home patients and staff, higher education, critical infrastructure, first responders and other priority testing criteria.

As of today, over 1.2 million Abbott BinaxNOW tests have already been shipped to Ohio, including more than a half million directly to congregate care facilities like nursing homes, assisted living facilities and to historically black colleges and universities.

“To facilitate the continued re-opening of Ohio schools, businesses and economy, the Trump Administration has prioritized scaling up the state’s point of care testing capacity by making this $760 million national investment in BinaxNOW tests,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir, MD.

The White House said the state has reported its distributed 175,000 tests to higher education institutions to test asymptomatic individuals, according to preliminary feedback.

Giroir said the additional testing is not a substitute for avoiding crowded indoor places, washing hands or wearing a mask when not able to physically distance.

Cox Media Group