Testing
- If you are sick, stay home. Call a health care professional if you develop a fever or symptoms of respiratory illness -- such as cough or shortness of breath.
- CLICK HERE to find where to get a COVID-19 test.
- For testing in Licking County, please visit Licking Memorial Health Systems for additional information.
- Before you throw out "expired" COVID-19 at-home testing kits: Check to see if your tests' expiration dates have been extended!
Home Testing
If you need an at-home testing kit, we have them in our front office at 675 Price Road in Newark and in our front office in Pataskala at 621 West Broad Street. If you are symptomatic, we ask that you have someone else come inside to pick up the kits.
What To Do If You Test Positive
As of 8/12/2022 - Here is the current guidance in Licking County for isolated individuals:
- If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
- Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.
- Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, including travel and public transportation settings.
- Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Learn more about what to do if you have COVID-19.
If you test positive WITH symptoms:
- Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
- Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started
If you test positive with NO symptoms:
- Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
- Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
- If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset
ENDING ISOLATION
- If you had no symptoms, you can end isolation after day 5
- If you had symptoms, you can end isolation if:
- You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
- Your symptoms are improving
- If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve.
- If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19-, or you have a weakened immune system, you need to isolate through day 10.
- If you had severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.
- If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
Removing your mask after your 5 day isolation
- If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.
- Note: If your antigen test result(s)1 is/are positive, you may still be infectious. You should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test. Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond day 10.
What To Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19
As of 8/12/2022 - Here is the current guidance in Licking County for COVID-19 exposure
If you were exposed to COVID-19:
- Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed
- Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
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Get tested at least 5 full days after your last exposure
- Test even if you don’t develop symptoms.
- Even if you test negative, continue to take precautions a wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and indoors in public
- If you start to develop symptoms or test positive, please refer to our isolation section of this webpage
Local Data
- Licking County COVID-19 Data as of 2/6/2023. COVID cases will be posted monthly on our website.
- Since January 4, there are 594 new COVID-19 cases in the Licking County Health Jurisdiction. There are 149 Active COVID-19 cases (includes confirmed and probable).
- There are 7 current LMH hospitalizations
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'Active Isolation Cases' – Within 10 days of symptoms onset or a positive test result
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'In Isolation Cases' - Within 5 days of symptom onset or a positive test result
- LCHD is using the positive test result date to estimate the period someone is considered in isolation for data tracking purposes only. This is due to inconsistent symptom onset data being available at this time.
Epidemiology Report
LCHD’s Weekly COVID-19 Epidemiology Report is updated monthly
Get a COVID-19 Test
Need a COVID-19 test? Find a testing location near you.
School Guidance
Updates and Press Releases
Read LCHD’s COVID-19 Press Releases and Updates.
LCHD COVID-19 Response
We have been working with the Ohio Department of Health, local health care providers, first responders, emergency management agency, schools, local officials, and many other groups to provide guidance and planning assistance to prepare for and respond to COVID-19’s impact on our community.
For general COVID-19 questions , call the ODH hotline at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) or visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
The Licking County Health Department strives to protect the privacy of the individual until we believe it is important to let the community know. Data is updated regularly to keep the public informed of disease trends for COVID-19 as well as monthly updates for other reportable diseases.
Case Definitions
Active – Cases listed as “active” are based on a timeframe of 10 days from an individual’s positive test date. LCHD is using the positive test date to estimate the period someone is considered contagious for data tracking purposes only. This is due to inconsistent symptom onset data being available at this time. The standard communicable period (ability to infect others) for COVID-19 is 10 days from an individual’s symptom onset date.
Isolation – Cases listed as “In Isolation” are based on a timeframe of 5 days from an individual’s positive test date. LCHD is using the positive test result date to estimate the period someone is considered in isolation for data tracking purposes only. This is due to inconsistent symptom onset data being available at this time.
Probable - Being classified as "probable case" means a patient has symptoms consistent for COVID-19 and an epidemiological link to a confirmed case, but do not have confirmatory laboratory evidence for COVID-19.
Closed - Being classified as “closed case” means LCHD has made multiple attempts and is unable to contact and verify the individual is recovered. In addition, Long-Term Care residents have been labeled “closed” as each long-term care facility evaluates these patients in a closed-care setting. See the ODH Dashboard for information on active vs. closed long-term care residents in Licking County here.
Recovered - Being classified as “recovered” means LCHD has followed up with the case and evaluated them against the CDC guidelines for end of isolation, as they are no longer considered contagious.
Definitive cause of death can take weeks to determine. LCHD does not make determinations on COVID-19 deaths. ODH determines COVID-19 deaths after reviewing death certificates. Data displayed illustrates current status.
Resources and Links
COVID-19 Return to School Guidance
- LCHD’s COVID Return to School Guidance
- Ohio Department of Health's COVID-19 Fact Sheet K-12 Exposure and Quarantine Flow Chart