The state of Ohio announced it would be receiving a large shipment of rapid COVID-19 tests to test vulnerable communities in the state quickly.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sending 3,520,000 Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 point of care antigen tests to the State of Ohio.

The rapid point of care tests, which can diagnose coronavirus infection in as little as fifteen minutes, will be distributed at the discretion of Governor Mike DeWine to support testing K-12 students, teachers, nursing home patients and staff, higher education, critical infrastructure, first responders, and other priorities as he deems fit.

Over 543,000 COVID-19 rapid tests will be sent directly to congregate care settings such as Ohio nursing homes, assisted living facilities.

As of October 26, over 1,227,000 BinaxNOW tests have been shipped to Ohio.

In preliminary feedback, the State of Ohio has shared they have distributed 175,000 to higher education institutions for the testing of asymptomatic individuals.