COVID-19 testing available, but supplies limited, in Cambridge area

The shortage of self-administered rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits has made it difficult to find them in Guernsey County, but there are still plenty of options for local residents.

"We sell the rapid home tests, but they are hard to keep in stock," said Carol Rose, assistant manager at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Cambridge. "We do offer COVID testing in the drive-thru, but it's not a rapid test. Those tests are sent out and the results are usually available in three to fie days."

Pharmacist Michelle Carmichael, pharmacy manager at Walmart on Southgate Parkway in Cambridge, agreed it's hard to keep the rapid tests in stock.

"They come in early in the morning but they are gone quickly, usually before I even get to work," said Carmichael.

The Walmart pharmacy does not offer any other COVID testing on site.

At-home rapid tests are also sold at CVS Pharmacy on Wheeling Avenue, according to the pharmacy's website.

Other in-person COVID-19 testing options locally including Muskingum Valley Health Center and Southeastern Med on Clark Street in Cambridge and CVS Pharmacy on Wheeling Avenue in downtown Cambridge.

Appointments for testing at CVS can be made through its website, cvs.com/coronavirus.

"We are actively testing in all four counties that we primarily serve," said Richard Fulkerson, chief administrative officer at MVHC. The counties include Guernsey, Muskingum, Morgan and Coshocton.

Symptomatic patients can walk in to Urgent Care at MVHC, where they will be given a visit to see a provider for testing. Urgent Care is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday

Patients can also call 800-454-5157 to schedule an appointment.

Limited testing is available at Southeastern Med.

"We are offering testing on an outpatient basis with a physician's order," confirmed Southeastern Med President/CEO Wendy Elliott.

The Columbus Dispatch recently reported Mike Gray, whose company CMG Partners II, imports and distributes COVID-19 tests, said there are not enough tests being manufactured to fulfill what the Biden administration and state governments have promised to schools and communities.

Alcon, one of the test manufacturers, only makes about 102 million tests a month, Gray said. And Abbott, another manufacturer, makes about 50 million tests a month and is ramping up to 70 million, he said.

"The testing is going to be a real challenge for this country," Gray said. "You can't take them away from health systems for kids to go to school."

As of Wednesday, all three Guernsey County school districts — East Guernsey, Cambridge City and Rolling Hills — remained in the classroom with in-person learning.

The Guernsey County District Public Library has also been distributing at-home test kits free of charge, but is currently out of the tests.

"We are expecting a shipment at any time now and expect to receive up to 4,000 during the month of January," said Director Michael Simer. "People can call, visit our Facebook page or visit our website to see when have tests available."

Contact the library online at www.guernseycountylibrary.org, or by telephone at Crossroads Branch, 740-432-7536; Downtown Branch, 740-432-5946; or Byesville Branch, 740-685-2236.

According to Simer, the library distributed 1,700 tests during a three-and-a-half day span in December near the Christmas holiday.

As of Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 2,093,074 COVID-19 cases statewide including 7,961 in Guernsey County and 2,473 in Noble County.

Muskingum County leads the counties surrounding Guernsey County with 18,958 cases followed by Tuscarawas, 16,859; Belmont, 11,731; Coshocton, 6,247; and Harrison, 2,499.

Coronavirus cases in Guernsey County have resulted in 607 hospitalizations and 103 deaths while Noble County health officials report 162 hospitalizations and 50 deaths.

Vaccination rates in Guernsey and Noble counties also continue to increase, although both counties remain behind statewide percentages for vaccinations started and completed.

"We continue to encourage everybody to get vaccinated," said Elliott. "Omicron is here, so please continue to wear your masks and social distance."

Omicron is the leading coronavirus variant in the United States and is responsible for the recent explosion in cases that have exceeded 20,000 daily statewide.

Health officials in Guernsey County report 17,477 resident (44.9%) had started COVID vaccinations with 16,318 (41.89%) having completed the process.

Thirteen new residents received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in the 24 hours prior to Jan. 4, with 22 residents completing the process during the same time period.

Additional booster doses in Guernsey County total 6,962 with 83 new doses in the 24 hour time span.

In Noble County, 6,310 residents (43.75%) have started receiving vaccines with 5,977 (41.43%) completing the process. Additional doses total 2,470 with 23 new doses being administered during the 24-hour span prior to Tuesday.

Several locations in Guernsey County including the Cambridge-Guernsey County Health Department continue to offer COVID vaccinations.

"We do not offer any testing at the health department, but we do offer walk-in vaccination clinics," said Rose Ball, administrator at the health department. "All clinics are 8 to 11:00 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m."

The health department at 326 Highland Ave. in Cambridge offers Moderna vaccines on Mondays, Johnson & Johnson on Wednesdays and Pfizer on Fridays.

"We also offer vaccinations and booster shots in all four counties," said Fulkerson of MVHC. "We offer appointments and walk-in vaccinations and booster shots daily, Monday through Friday."

Rite Aid and CVS continue to offer vaccinations with appointments scheduled through each pharmacy's website. The website for Rite Aid is www.riteaid.com.

Ball recommended residents call ahead to any testing or vaccination provider to ensure COVID-19 tests and/or vaccines are available.

"Changes in vaccine product and distribution make it hard to keep a correct an accurate listing," said Ball. "If we receive phone calls, we ask that they call the facility to verify the vaccine products available."

Riesbeck's Pharmacy on South 23rd Street in Cambridge is currently not offering either vaccines or testing, but plans are to resume vaccinations in the near future. No date has been set for the service to begin again.

A pharmacy staffer said they are trying to get more tests, but have been unsuccessful.

Visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards/other-resources/testing-ch-centers to learn more about COVID-19 testing in Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: COVID-19 testing available, but supplies limited, in Cambridge area