Ohio Funneling COVID-19 Tests To Schools, Pausing Other Shipments

OHIO — Ohio officials are pausing the supply of COVID-19 test kits to certain public institutions and instead prioritizing the testing needs of all state schools, the Ohio Department of Health announced this week.

Ohio is struggling to import testing kits, the department said, so its more meager supply will be funneled first to educational facilities, including both K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

Officials ordered 1.2 million proctored test kits to be delivered in January, but so far only 400,000 kits have been delivered. Shipment of the remaining 800,000 kits has been delayed, the Ohio Department of Health said. Officials still hope to receive the remaining kits in January, and as the kits arrive they will first be offered to Ohio schools.

"COVID-19 tests are a critical tool to help ensure in-person learning can continue in Ohio schools. Ongoing access to these tests helps ensure students and teachers can remain in the classroom," the department said in a statement.

As Ohio's COVID-19 surge continues to strain hospitals and supply chains, schools are seeing significant demand for tests. To accommodate educators and students, the state is pausing its supply of COVID-19 test kits to other groups until supply and demand have stabilized.

Over the past week, Ohioans have used nearly 94,000 COVID-19 test kits per day.

Previously, health officials had made both the Abbott BinaxNow at-home antigen tests, and over-the-counter self-administered tests, available at health departments, libraries, schools and other locations.

To date, the Ohio Department of Health has distributed approximately 5.6 million free testing kits.