• Testing also at developmental centers

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has set up Congregate Care Unified Response Teams to begin testing residents and staff within the 960 nursing homes in the state for coronavirus beginning this week.

“All staff in all Ohio nursing facilities will be tested. This will help nursing home administrators understand the status of the virus in their facilities and will help isolate the virus and help keep it from infecting their community,” said Governor Mike DeWine at the daily Covid19 briefing.

“Newly organized Congregate Care Unified Response Teams, which will include medically trained members of the Ohio National Guard will begin testing residents and staff within nursing homes.”

According to him, “testing will occur in facilities where residents or workers have confirmed or assumed positive cases. “

He said that “testing will be conducted on all staff, and the testing of residents will be based on a clinically driven strategy that targets those who have likely been exposed to COVID19.”

Also, Governor DeWine said the state “will begin the testing of all residents and staff members of the state’s developmental centers.  This is an important effort to try to limit the spread of COVID-19 in congregate care settings.”

“Medically trained members of the Ohio National Guard will be at Ohio’s eight developmental centers this week to test residents and their staff.  By getting a clear picture of the COVID19 situation on these facilities, we can help prevent the spread.”