AKRON, Ohio — Beginning mid-June, Cleveland Clinic Akron General will open a COVID-19 testing location in downtown Akron with the assistance from the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund.
The Akron Summit County COVID-19 Support Fund will provide $150,000 to help cover costs at the testing site, which is located at 676 Broadway Street.
This site will help increase testing in the area and will help address health disparities affecting minority populations. Summit County Public Health estimated that 36% of individuals in Summit County who are infected with COVID-19 are African American. According to the Ohio Disease Reporting System, however, African Americans represent 15 percent of the total county population.
“This site is an important step in addressing health disparities affecting minority populations that exist with COVID-19, and can serve as a component of an overall strategy for providing a community-based solution to testing access,” said Dr. Harte. “We continue to have discussions with county health officials on ways to manage testing.”
To get tested, patients must have a doctor’s order and an appointment.
“Public health experts have been clear – widespread testing will be essential to winning the fight against COVID-19. As Ohio proceeds through the reopening process, we must accelerate our efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens and increase access to testing to those populations at highest risk of serious complications,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan in a news release.
United Way of Summit County will work with families at the site to provide referrals for supportive services, including housing assistance and nutritional support.
Last month, Akron General opened a testing site in Green, where about 100 tests a day are being conducted at that location.
