Free Drive-Up COVID-19 Testing Offered at NEOMED

Updated July 24, 2020.

The summer heat didn’t keep them away on Tuesday, July 21, when 650 people obtained free COVID-19 testing in parking lots at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

The free, drive-up nasal swab testing (technically, nasopharyngeal testing) will also be available Thursday, July 23, from 1 – 6 p.m.; and Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. NEOMED is hosting the testing in partnership with Portage County Health District, Portage County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, and University Hospitals Portage County Medical Center.

Student volunteers from NEOMED helped pass out the required laboratory forms to drivers during the peak of business at the beginning of the day.

The driver stays seated in their vehicle, wearing their face covering over their mouth during the test.

No appointment is needed and no health care provider referral is required. Individuals of any age may be tested, but those under 18 will need the signed consent of a parent or guardian. Those being tested will need proper ID, a pen and something to write on.

The lab results will be called to the phone number that the test-taker provides on the form provided. Officials said results normally take 24-72 hours to process.

There will be enough supplies to test up to 1,000 individuals each day.

DIRECTIONS

NEOMED is located at 4209 State Route 44 in Rootstown.

From the east or west: Take the Ravenna exit from Interstate 76 East or 76 West, then head south on state Route 44. To enter the testing stations, drive past the campus, then turn right (west) onto Tallmadge Road. Turn right again onto Loretta Drive.

From the south: Take state Route 44 north to Tallmadge Road, then turn left. Turn right onto Loretta Drive.

After testing, cars will be directed to exit the campus onto Route 44.