Akron General Opening New COVID-19 Testing Site Downtown
Written by Ryan LangCleveland Clinic Akron General is opening a COVID-19 testing center downtown in mid-June, according to a press release (See below).
In addition to assistance from the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund and the United Way of Summit County, Akron-based GOJO Industries is donating $25-thousand to the site. It will be located near GOJO's headquarters on the south side of downtown Akron.
A doctor's order and appointment are required for any patient looking to get tested.
The current Akron General coronavirus testing site in Green is providing 100 tests per day, according to the press release.
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(CC Akron General) Cleveland Clinic Akron General will open a COVID-19 testing location in downtown Akron in mid-June with assistance from the Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund. United Way of Summit County will provide additional support to families and individuals at the testing site.
“Cleveland Clinic Akron General has been working closely with United Way, the City of Akron, Summit County Public Health, and the County Executive’s Office to help create a centrally located COVID-19 testing site for Summit County patients,” said Brian Harte, M.D., President of Akron General.
According to Summit County Public Health, it is estimated that 36 percent 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.”
Cleveland Clinic continues to lead COVID-19 testing in Northeast Ohio, providing tests for patients with no copays, and regardless of their ability to pay. A doctor’s order and an appointment are required for a test. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are asked to first consult a healthcare provider using Cleveland Clinic’s digital platform, Express Care Online, or call their primary care physician to evaluate their symptoms and determine if testing is appropriate.
The Akron Summit County COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund will provide $150,000 to help cover costs at the testing site, located at 676 South Broadway Street. The relief fund – which was created through a partnership between United Way of Summit County, the City of Akron, the County of Summit, Akron Public Schools, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Summit County Public Health and Job & Family Services – has raised more than $1.3 million in support of the local pandemic response.
“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. “I want to thank Dr. Harte and the Cleveland Clinic Akron General leadership team for recognizing this and answering the call to provide testing in our city. I look forward to seeing access expanded even further in the near future.”
GOJO Industries, Inc., will contribute $25,000 for the testing site, which is located on the south side of downtown Akron near the company’s headquarters. Support from donors will help offset expenses associated with configuring and operating the testing location, including equipment, staffing and supplies.
“As a plan for county-wide access to testing evolves, Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s commitment to a testing site in the City of Akron is a critical and most welcome component of that plan,” said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “Many thanks to Akron General, Summit County United Way and GOJO for this community partnership in furtherance of public health for all Summit County residents.”
United Way of Summit County will work with families and individuals at the testing site to provide referrals to supportive services across Summit County – from nutritional support to housing assistance and more.
“The pandemic has shined a spotlight on the need in our community, as well as the disparities that often exist between the support that’s available to different sectors of our community,” said Jim Mullen, President and CEO of United Way of Summit County. “United Way is committed to working with partners like Cleveland Clinic Akron General to make sure that help is available to anyone who needs it throughout this crisis.”
As with other Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 testing sites, Akron General will follow the Ohio Department of Health’s guidelines for who is eligible for a test. The state continues to emphasize testing of patients who are most severely ill, patients who are moderately ill with a high risk of complications – such as those who are elderly and those with serious medical issues – and individuals who are critical to providing care and service to those who are ill. Cleveland Clinic also offers testing for caregivers, first responders and patients with scheduled surgeries.
Last month, Akron General opened a testing site in Green, and is currently providing about 100 tests a day at that location. Cleveland Clinic’s first testing site opened in March at its main campus in Cleveland.
Larry Williams - University of Akron Athletic Director
Written by Tony MazurThis Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro-5-15-20 Featured
Written by Jeanne DestroThis week, it’s all about technology in the fight against COVID19, made right here at home in Ohio.
Guests this week include University of Akron Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Nicholas Garafolo, Akron Makerspace Vice President, Beckett Salchak, and William Richter, who is a microbiologist at Battelle, in Columbus.
UA Cutting Three Collegiate Sports Amid Realignment
Written by Ryan Lang(University of Akron The University of Akron (UA) announced today that it will discontinue three intercollegiate athletics programs at the end of the 2019-20 academic year as part of its plan to reduce the University’s financial support to the Athletics Department by approximately 23 percent ($4.4 million). The action is being taken as part of the University’s overall redesign to emerge from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that financially stabilizes the institution.
Affected by the decision are the sports of men’s cross country, men’s golf and women’s tennis. With the change, UA, which previously sponsored 20 sports, will now have 17 sports (7 men’s sports and 10 women’s sports). Akron will remain a member of The Mid-American Conference (MAC).
The move affects 23 male and 9 female student-athletes. The elimination of these sports, along with salary reductions for select coaches, staff position eliminations, scholarship and operating expenditure reductions will total approximately $4.4 million.
“These decisions are very difficult, but they are important and necessary at this time,” said Director of Athletics Larry Williams. “This action aligns us with our Mid-American Conference peers in the total number of sports and is part of the ongoing effort to redesign the University to ensure that UA continues to invest in high-demand, high-quality academic programs.”
Williams continued, “This morning, I met via video conference with the student-athletes affected by the decision. We understand that some may choose to leave Akron to continue in their sport at another university, and we have committed to offering them our full support throughout that process. This is a difficult day for all of us. We have dedicated student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff who have embraced being a Zip and make tremendous contributions to campus life in class, in competition and in our greater community.”
Williams said the announcement was made today to allow the student-athletes as much time as possible to find new schools at which they can continue in their sports, if they choose to do so. This also will allow the three coaches and one graduate assistant who are impacted time to find new positions.
In reaching this decision, the University considered many factors including: program cost, athletics facilities, University and community impacts, and likelihood of noteworthy success at the current and future funding levels.
Part 2 :17 - With springtime activities being canceled, as well as the Lock 3 events, how will the city of Akron look come this summer? Akron mayor Dan Horrigan joined the show to talk about what can open while following the governor’s guidelines, including outdoor areas for adult beverage consumption, and he discussed the public health policies they’re maintaining going forward. 13:06 - Secretary of State Frank LaRose called into the program to recap Ohio’s late April primaries and talked about the process of counting the ballots. 20:23 - Talks and negotiations are ongoing with Major League Baseball on getting back on the field. But could we see a season without fans, or if fans want to check out a game, should they have the luxury of braving the virus?