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part of it COVID-19 winter preparedness plan For a limited time, this window of opportunity is free at-home COVID tests. Every U.S. household can order up to four home tests for free. covidtests.govTests began shipping earlier this week.

Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County said it’s a good idea to take advantage of free COVID-19 testing, especially if anyone is experiencing symptoms, and also as a precaution when going to holiday gatherings. John Steele, public information specialist at Public Health, said that prolonged close contact meetings indoors are the primary route for the spread of diseases such as COVID, influenza and RSV.

“We definitely expect to see increases,” Steele said. He also said that limited ventilation indoors during the winter also contributes to the spread of diseases.

Steele recommended that for those who are sick or experiencing symptoms, stay home or postpone meetings for vacation until the illness subsides.

“We really encourage people to access and take advantage of these free tests,” said Nate Smith, Clark County Combined Health District communications coordinator. Smith said that, apart from staying up to date on vaccines, testing for COVID-19 is one of the most important tools in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Oral treatments are available for people with COVID-19 who may be more susceptible to serious illness from the virus. These oral treatments work best if taken as soon as possible after testing positive for COVID-19, Smith said.

Smith suggests potentially retesting five days after exposure if a person is exposed to COVID-19, and a few days after that if the first test is negative. With holiday parties approaching, individuals may want to get tested before going to any event, especially if they will be around someone who is immunocompromised.

“We’ve seen an increase in COVID after most of these holidays,” Smith said. Thanksgiving was no exception, which saw a surge in confirmed COVID cases following the holiday gatherings.

“It’s not just COVID that we’re worried about. Smith stated that a large part of the flu and RSV stays out.

In addition to free testing from federal governments, Clark County residents can take tests from the Clark County Combined Health District at 529 E. Home Rd, Wednesday, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. ., Springfield.

Other institutions also expect to see an increase in the spread of diseases as families gather for the holidays. The Warren County Health District also expects increased cases of the disease to spread this season.

“This may be because many people will be traveling to spend time with friends and family, and much of that time is spent close together, often indoors,” said public official Allison Combs. Information officer from the Warren County Health District. “These conditions allow for the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases such as flu. It’s an excellent idea for residents to order free COVID-19 tests to have on hand if needed. Have COVID-19 tests available any time of the year, especially during the holiday season.” It’s always a good idea.”

For Warren County residents, there are currently free COVID-19 tests available in the Warren County Health District. Individuals should call the health zone at 513-695-2097 to request a COVID-19 home testing kit.

How do you protect yourself?

Every county in the Dayton area is at a moderate level of COVID-19 spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s system of community levels. For the intermediate level, individuals should consider the following: