Cincinnati Health Commissioner Melba Moore said so far the city's health clinics have tested 11 people for COVID-19. Moore told City Council Wednesday they're still waiting on results for the six people who were tested last week.
"We were told that those test results would be in today," Moore said. "When we called again to ask approximately what time, they were unable to give us a time. But they did say today."
Moore acknowledged it's taking up to eight days to get test results, and that's too long. Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld noted that one location in Cleveland is providing results in eight hours.
Moore also said the city is trying to obtain more testing kits.
"Earlier this week, I would tell you I had approximately 60 and again, working very hard to put our hands on as much as we can get," Moore said. "We know that one of our hospital providers made a request for 10,000."
The health department is still asking people who think they have COVID-19 symptoms to call their primary care provider, or call the city's hotline at 513-357-7462. They do not want people with symptoms to just show up at one of the city's clinics.
"If you have mild symptoms, a low-grade fever, you're not going to be tested," Moore said. "If you have moderate symptoms - fever, coughing, shortness of breath - and you have comorbidities, diabetes, heart disease, and so if you have those, then you will be tested."
