Government's free COVID-19 test program is ending. Where can you get tests in Columbus?

Micah Walker, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read

With COVID-19 cases not going away and kids going back to school, it would be wishful thinking to pretend that there will be no need for coronavirus testing this fall.

Too bad, then, that a government website offering free at-home tests to Americans soon will shut down. As of Friday, free tests will no longer be available through COVIDTests.gov, USA Today reported.

The Biden administration said it has to limit distribution of tests because Congress has not approved funding to replenish the nation's stockpile.

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The website launched in January due to the Biden administration's purchase of 500 million COVID-19 tests at the end of last year to help tackle the wave of cases brought on by the omicron variant. The government has distributed more than 600 million tests through COVIDTests.gov since its start, according to USA Today.

Where to get COVID-19 tests in the Columbus area

Tests, however, are still being distributed through a variety of other ways, including thousands of federally supported community sites such as libraries and pharmacies, and through community health centers. People also can be reimbursed for tests through private and public health insurance plans.

COVID-19:Government website to suspend orders for free COVID tests due to limited supply

Here are some places around Greater Columbus where you can still get tested, purchase at-home COVID-19 tests, or learn about local resources.

Drug stores, health care providers and hospitals are places where you can get tested for COVID-19.
Drug stores, health care providers and hospitals are places where you can get tested for COVID-19.

Ohio Department of Health

The Ohio Department of Health compiles a directory of testing and community health centers that provide COVID-19 tests. There are almost 200 locations listed in Franklin County alone, and these include community clinics, pharmacies and urgent care centers.

The directory can be found at coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards/other-resources/testing-ch-centers.

Wexner Medical Center

Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center offers both rapid and PCR tests. People can schedule an appointment on the MyChart app or call 614-293-4000. Testing occurs at the person's Ohio State primary care provider's office or one of the center's immediate care locations.

Testing is no longer provided at the hospital's emergency department, however, unless a patient has significant symptoms of COVID-19, like shortness of breath, and hospital admission is anticipated, according to the center's website.

OhioHealth

OhioHealth primary care offices provide on-site COVID-19 testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. People can call their doctor's office for details and to schedule an appointment. Testing is available at one of OhioHealth's laboratory services locations for those who are asymptomatic. Patients must have a provider order to be tested at one of these sites.

In addition, the organization's urgent care locations conduct COVID-19 testing, but this is limited to patients with symptoms.

Drug stores

Most chains — such as CVS and Walgreens — require appointments for tests, whether PCR or rapid. Call or check online for details. Many also have at-home tests available for purchase.

Public libraries

The Columbus Metropolitan Library is currently out of stock on COVID-19 tests, according to media specialist Ben Zenitsky. However, the library plans to have tests in the next week.

Worthington Libraries and the Delaware County District Library are also reporting tests are out of stock.

Reporter Dean Narciso and USA Today reporter Maureen Groppe contributed to this article.

mwalker@dispatch.com

@micah_walker701

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: COVID-19 tests in Columbus: Where to go, where to find at-home kits