Huron County Public Health to host drive-thru event

NORWALK — Current COVID-19 transmission in Huron County remains low. Huron County Public Health officials are optimistic that through both vaccinations and natural immunity, Huron County will continue to see an adequate level of "community immunity" to retain these minimal transmission levels. However, recent increases in COVID-19 transmission in Europe and the Costal U.S., the increase in the proportion of U.S. COVID-19 cases attributed to the more-contagious BA.2 variant, and speculation from some U.S. health experts that another COVID-19 wave or uptick of COVID-19 could potentially occur have prompted HCPH to schedule a drive-thru COVID-19 rapid test kit distribution event. The details of the event are as follows: • What? FREE Drive-Thru COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit Distribution Event • When? 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday • Where? Huron County Fairgrounds • Additional Details: First come/first served for the first 500 vehicles with about 2,000 kits available. Kits will be distributed 4 per vehicle. Not limited to Huron County residents. HCPH would like to emphasize the intended purpose of this event: to assist residents in preparing for the potential for a future wave or uptick of COVID-19 in our community. Though the potential for another wave is uncertain, HCPH would like to help prepare and equip the community for this possibility while the circulation of COVID-19 remains low, and, in case availability of test kits is limited in the future by another wave or uptick in transmission. HCPH encourages people to have enough test kits for their family on-hand now for when they may need them later. For example, if a family member begins exhibiting signs or symptoms of COVID-19, learns they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or is planning to visit a high-risk friend or loved one, obtaining test kits now would result in kits readily available rather than scrambling to find or purchase kits quickly when they are needed. Remember: testing remains key to slowing the spread of COVID- 19; by getting tested, you can protect the health of those you love and everyone around you. If you or someone you know want COVID-19 test kits but unable to attend Wednesday's distribution event, HCPH would like to remind residents of other ways to obtain test kits: • Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 2 sets of 4 FREE at-home tests through the federal government. If you already ordered your first set, you are now able to order a second today. Kits can be ordered online at www.covidtests.gov or via phone at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). • Ohioans in select zip codes can order additional FREE test kits through a partnership between the State of Ohio and the Rockefeller Foundation. In Huron County, only residents in the Norwalk (44857) zip code are currently eligible. These kits can be ordered by visiting www.accesscovidtests.org and may be ordered in addition to the federally available test kits. • At-home COVID-19 test kits can also be ordered online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Private health insurance may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. Visit FDA's Website at https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid- 19-diagnostic-tests?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#list for a list of authorized tests. Additional information about COVID-19 testing can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms- testing/testing.html.