CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic said Friday its seeing a growing number of people visiting emergency rooms or urgent cares to get tested for COVID-19. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Cleveland Clinic is reporting an increase in demand for COVID-19 tests

  • The hospital system is discouraging those with non-severe COVID-19 symptoms from coming to emergency rooms and urgent cares for coronavirus tests

  • The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is reporting a significant increase in COVID-19 tests being administered

  • There has also been a significant increase in reported COVID-19 cases within the county

The Cleveland Clinic has outlined how those seeking coronavirus tests through the hospital system is able to get tested:

  • If you or a loved one are experiencing non-urgent COVID-19 symptoms and have a Cleveland Clinic primary care provider, you may schedule a testing appointment online in MyChart without seeing a provider.
  • If you or a loved one are experiencing non-urgent COVID-19 symptoms and do not have a Cleveland Clinic primary care physician and would like to be tested through Cleveland Clinic, please schedule an online virtual visit to see a provider who can order a test for you.
  • If you do not have symptoms but would still like to be tested for COVID-19 through Cleveland Clinic, please self-schedule a testing appointment through MyChart.
  • Cleveland Clinic is one of many locations in the community where testing is provided. In addition to testing sites, self-testing kits from the State of Ohio are available free of charge at local libraries and for sale at most retail pharmacies.

Like the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals also offers testing through clinicians, in addition to drive-thru locations.

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the number of COVID-19 tests being administered is significantly increasing within the county. During a two-week period from June 30 to July 13, there were 26,303 coronavirus tests administered in Cuyahoga County. From Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, 68,784 tests were administered. 

During that period, the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests dramatically increased, per the Board of Health. The testing positivity rate from June 30 to July 13 was .9 percent. From Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, the county’s positivity rate was 7.7%. 

Although many libraries across Ohio are carrying COVID-19 tests, some libraries have reported not having enough supply. 

“Please keep in mind that demand for testing is very high, so please call your local library first to make sure a test is available,” the Ohio Library Council wrote earlier this month.

In nearby Summit County, public health officials said Tuesday they were limiting the at-home rapid tests to one per person, citing high demand. The health department also temporarily ran out of tests this month, but kits were in stock as of the last update. 

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