OHIO — Amid Ohio’s record-breaking COVID-19 surge, Walgreens and CVS are limiting the number of COVID-19 tests customers can purchase at one time.
Walgreens issued their limits first, allowing customers to purchase four take-home tests at a time. The policy applies online and in stores. The chain is hoping the purchase limit will improve inventory, and said it will continue to work with supplier partners to meet customer demands.
CVS then announced its own limits on at-home shopping, prohibiting consumers from buying five at a time. According to CNN, Amazon (10 per customer) and Walmart (eight per online customer) also launched their own COVID-19 kit. limits for consumers this week.
On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 12,500 new cases of COVID-19 among Ohioans and nearly six hundred hospitalizations. Eighty-one Ohioans positive for COVID-19 were admitted to extensive care facilities in the same 24-hour period.
Hospitals across northern Ohio have issued repeated calls for citizens to get vaccinated, wear masks in public and in large crowds. They also suggested patients avoid getting tested in crowded emergency rooms.
The Ohio National Guard opened a COVID-19 testing site in Cleveland on Tuesday, but it was temporarily overwhelmed by demand. The site began turning away cars after just two hours on Tuesday. The site is now only open to patients who have registered in the past. for a test, News Five reported.
“With increased demand for COVID vaccines, testing, and other services, in addition to the busy holiday season, our pharmacy and store team members are working incredibly hard every day. We ask our consumers for patience and understanding as we combine to navigate an evolving pandemic environment,” said John Standley, president of Walgreens.
Walgreens said its pharmacy team members have administered nearly 55 million COVID-19 vaccines and more than 22 million COVID-19 tests across the United States. COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are available in Walgreens stores across the country, and the company operates more than 7,200 COVID-19 testing locations.
Walgreens expects a 24 to 48 hour turnaround time for the COVID-19 PCR test. According to the company, quick checks can also be performed at the point of care and the effects will continue to be obtained in less than 24 hours.
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