COVID-19 Alert - November 19

By the Numbers:

* Today’s numbers are incomplete because thousands of reports are pending review by the Ohio Department of Health.

• Individuals Tested: 5,459,223

• 88 counties with at least one case

• Ages range from less than one year old to 109 years of age, with a median age of 42

• State of Ohio COVID-19 dashboard: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/dashboard

• Total Cases: 326,615 (26,364 of which are health care workers)

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 7,787

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 5,604

• Total Deaths: 5,890

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 63

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 29

• Total Hospitalizations: 23,560 (4,318 of which are in the intensive care unit)

• Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 343

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 227

Hospitalization Levels at Record High:

• As of today, there are 3,829 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Ohio, with 943 of those individuals in the ICU. These are the highest patient counts Ohio has had during the pandemic and more than double the hospitalizations recorded during previous peaks.

• While statewide testing has increased by 43%, positive cases have increased by nearly 300% in the past month.

• In addition, new data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health revealed today that Franklin County has reached a Level 4 Purple Public Emergency with severe exposure and spread. This is the first time any Ohio county has entered into Level 4 Purple.

• All 88 counties remain at "high incidence" as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the first time, no counties are rated below Level 2.

Order Instituting 21-Day Curfew Signed:

• Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed a health order encouraging people to stay at home from 10 PM to 5 AM, unless working or engaged in an essential activity.

• Specifications in this order include:

  • Individuals within the state must stay at a place of residence during the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM except for obtaining necessary food, medical care, or social services or providing care for others.

    • This order doesn’t apply to those that are homeless. Individuals whose residences are unsafe or become unsafe, such as victims of domestic violence, are encouraged to leave their homes and stay at a safe, alternative location.

    • The order does not apply to religious observances and First Amendment protected speech including activity by the media.

  • The order permits travel into or out of the state and permits travel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children according to a custody agreement, or to obtain fuel.

• Individuals are permitted to leave a place of residence during the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM for the following essential activities:

  • Engaging in activities essential to their health and safety or the health and safety of those in their households or people who are unable to or should not leave their homes, including pets. Activities can include but are not limited to seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or medication, or visiting a health care professional including hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and pharmacies.

  • To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or members of their household who are unable or should not leave their home, to deliver those services or supplies to others. Examples of those include but are not limited to, obtaining groceries and food. Food and beverages may be obtained only for consumption off-premises, through such means as delivery, drive-through, curbside pickup and carryout.

  • To obtain necessary social services.

  • To go to work, including volunteer work.

  • To take care of or transport a family member, friend, or pet in their household or another household.

  • To perform or obtain government services.

• This order will apply for the next 21-days.

Childcare Tracking Database:

• Two new COVID-19 dashboards tracking the number of cases at Ohio childcare centers are now available.

• The first dashboard tracks the number of children and staff cases in individual centers. Because of the small size of home-based providers, many of which serve six or fewer children, positive COVID cases from children and adults in those facilities will be tracked by county on a separate dashboard.

90% Retail Compliance:

• Ohio's Retail Compliance Unit has visited more than 50% of Ohio counties in its first three days. Agents have observed over 90% compliance in social distancing and mask-wearing in retail establishments, a noticeable improvement.

Governor Announces Intention to Veto Senate Bill 311:

• Governor DeWine also announced his intention to veto Senate Bill 311, which would limit the ability of the Ohio Department of Health to issue orders necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases now and in the future.

• Governor DeWine stated “Imagine if a country hostile to the United States smuggles a biological agent into our state and unleashes it in Ohio - our state would need to respond quickly to quarantine the area to stop its spread. This bill would make Ohio slow to respond in a crisis and would put our citizens in severe danger. I've always listened to the advice of experts, and the experts are telling me this is a dangerous idea. Doctors, nurses, and scientists have all advised me that this bill would do great harm if it became law."