Additional Federal Resources Deployed to Help Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Testing Site; Site Averaging 1,000 Tests Per Day
COLUMBUS, OH – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) toured CAS’ COVID-19 testing site with leaders from the Ohio National Guard, the Ohio State University, Columbus Public Health and CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society.
Brown spoke with Ohio National Guard members about their sacrifice, leaving their daily lives to help fellow Ohioans by working on health care’s front lines.
“I know we’re all exhausted by this pandemic. But we are in a much better place than we were a year ago. We got shots in arms and workers back on the job and kids back in school,” said Brown. “Between vaccines and booster shots and tests, we have the tools we need to protect Ohioans and keep workers on the job and our children in school. And public servants like these National Guard troops are the reason why.”
About 2,300 Ohio National Guard members have received federal orders to provide support for the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Troops are deployed to testing sites around the state, like the 20 National Guard members at the OSU Wexner Medical Center/CAS COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Site. Guard members are also doing other hospital jobs throughout Ohio, including environmental services, food services and transportation.
“Sen. Brown’s visit today was truly uplifting for our staff and members of the Ohio National Guard who have been testing thousands of central Ohioans over the past two weeks,” said Dr. Andrew Thomas, interim co-leader and chief clinical officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “It’s important for our frontline workers to see that Ohio’s elected leaders support them, value their tireless work and are doing what they can to help all of us get through this pandemic.”
From January 3 to January 13, the OSU Wexner Medical Center/CAS COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Site tested 6,232 people. The site went from an average of 160 tests per day to 1,000 tests per day over the span of two weeks.
“COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire in our community and we must use every tool we have to prevent the spread and protect health,” said Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts. “In addition to vaccines and masks, testing is a critical mitigation tool and we are pleased to work with our partners at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to increase testing opportunities in our community.”
“On behalf of all my colleagues at CAS, we are proud to partner with The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and the Ohio National Guard to provide this vital community service aimed at improving health, wellness and safety,” said Manuel Guzman, president of CAS. “It’s another example that when we join forces to strengthen our community, we can deliver even greater impact together.”
The three-lane drive-thru COVID testing site offers tests Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon by appointment only. Appointments can be made through MyChart or by calling 614-293-4000.