Changes to Testing, Vaccine, Treatment, and Reporting 

Testing 

Testing for COVID-19 continues to be a critical tool to help reduce the spread of the virus. To make rapid tests available and accessible to Ohioans, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) continues to partner with local health departments, public libraries, community health centers, and other community partners. ODH also partners with education, both K-12 and higher education, to provide tests as a tool to help mitigate spread in classroom and campus settings.  Partner organizations may reach out to testingrequests@odh.ohio.gov for more information.

Individuals who need tests can contact their local health department or public library to inquire about availability, and tests continue to be readily available for purchase at retail pharmacy locations. 

Coverage for tests performed by your provider or at a pharmacy may now have some costs depending on your insurance coverage, individuals should contact their insurer for coverage information. 

Effective January 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Medicaid will no longer cover COVID-19 at-home test kits. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on COVID-19 testing.

Expiration Dates

When COVID-19 at-home tests were first developed, they had short expiration dates that were frequently extended based on additional testing and validation. However, at this time, the date on the boxes should be the final expiration dates. For older tests the FDA has made available on its website an expiration date lookup tool for all at- home COVID-19 tests that have received an emergency use authorization (EUA). Details: 

• Scroll down to view the complete list of testing products. 
• Sites can select their specific test and within the “Expiration Date” column, click on “Extended Expiration Date.” 
• Sites can then locate their lot #(s) on the list provided and find their expiration date. 

Vaccine 

Updated COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be readily available to Ohioans, including those without insurance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  To see what you may need to be up to date please visit the CDC COVID-19 vaccine webpage. 

The ODH Vaccines for Children (VFC) program will provide vaccines, at no charge, to enrolled providers for administration to eligible children.

The ODH Adult Immunization Program will provide COVID-19 vaccines, at no charge, to local health departments and VFC-enrolled Federally Qualified Health Centers for adult clients who are not insured or who have no coverage for COVID-19 vaccines.

Adults over 19 years of age must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible for vaccine through the ODH Adult Immunization Program:

• Uninsured.
  • A person who does not have health insurance. (Medicaid and Medicare are considered insurance.)
• Underinsured.
  • A person who has health insurance, but the insurance does not include any vaccines.
  • A person whose insurance covers only selected vaccines.
  • A person whose insurance does not provide first-dollar coverage for vaccines.

Treatment 

A quick guide to COVID-19 treatments for the public.

Reporting 

The CDC no longer compiles and reports COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels or COVID-19 Community Levels. The CDC provides updates on Respiratory Virus Activity Levels to help individuals be aware of the status of common respiratory diseases in their community.

ODH continues to track levels of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Ohio, and data are available on our COVID-19 Reporting dashboard.

Staying up to Date with Vaccinations – The Latest Information 

If you are over the age of 60, have a serious chronic illness, or are immunocompromised, staying up to date with vaccines is especially important as you may be at higher risk for severe disease.

Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. 

Separate the myths from the facts.

What to do if you are sick or test positive? 

Understanding what to do if you feel sick or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses is key to preventing spread.

Treatment and Medications 

Various treatments are available for COVID-19 and can make all the difference in your recovery, especially if you are immune compromised.

Other Resources 

COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know.

Covid-19 Testing assistance for Ohioans who are blind or have low vision.