Ohio at-home COVID test distribution changing

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The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced on January 12 that the distribution of free at-home COVID tests through public libraries will be paused and priority given to supporting school and university testing. 

Since March 2021, the Ada Public Library has distributed some 4,600 tests to the public and has been awaiting the delivery of additional tests.

As of the afternoon of January 13, the Ada Schools had not received specific details regarding the ODH change, according to Superintendent Robin VanBuskirk.

The Ada schools make weekly reports to the state on the number of students and staff that have tested positive for COVID-19 in a week (Monday-Friday). These numbers appear on the state website the following Thursday: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards/schools-.... For example, the January 13, 2022 report showed 6 new student cases and 4 new staff cases during the prior week. This information was also provided through the school website.

On January 7, VanBuskirk provided a Community Update on new protocols:

"A student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID and is asymptomatic after five (5) days will be allowed to return to school as long as that student/staff member continues to wear a mask for up to five (5 days) after their return. Students will be required to check in with the nurse daily during the masking period.

A student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID and chooses not to wear a mask, will be allowed to return to school after ten (10) days and must be asymptomatic upon return.

A student or staff member who is unvaccinated and lives in the same household as a positive test case may return to school after 5 days, if they are asymptomatic and mask for up to five (5) days after their return.  Students will be required to check in with the nurse daily during the masking period.

A student or staff member who has been exposed to COVID and is vaccinated or has had COVID within the past 90 days may continue to attend school as long as they are asymptomatic."