COVID-19 Alert - October 8

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested:  3,480,214

• 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 40

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

• Total Cases: 164,626 (17,414 of which are health care workers)

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 1,539

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 1,080

• Total Deaths:  4,983

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 13

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 19

• Total Hospitalizations: 16,200 (3,395 of which are in the intensive care unit)

• Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 109

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 75

 Virus Spread Increase:

• Ohio’s lowest positivity was in mid to late September when the single day rate dipped to 2.5% several times, and the weekly average was 2.7% for the week of Sept. 18.

• Today, Ohio’s positivity rate jumped to 3.9% and the 7-day rolling average is 3.3%. This reflects the ongoing increasing trend of virus spread that we are seeing throughout the state.

• The virus is spreading in more areas of the state and impacting a wider swath of Ohioans. Local health departments reported to the Governor that the increase is due to lax social distancing, not enough people wearing masks, and people not following quarantine and isolation guidance.

• In addition, the Governor noted that in half of the red Ohio counties, outbreaks are linked to funerals and weddings. In one county, there was a wedding where two grandfathers died due to COVID.

Nursing Home Visitation Order:

• Governor DeWine announced that Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes has signed the order that allows nursing facilities to permit indoor visitation beginning Monday, October 12th. In order to permit indoor visitation, facilities are required to meet certain health and safety requirements.

• The visits will be limited to two visitors and will be a maximum of 30 minutes. Visitors will have to be socially distanced and wear a face covering. Visits are to occur in areas that are separate from a resident’s room.

• Facilities are required to report visitation information, including visitation status, hours, maximum visitation time, and number of visitors via an online dashboard at coronavirus.ohio.gov. Facilities must register with the state by October 19th.

• In addition, this order also details compassionate care visits, which are separate and distinct from normal visitation. These visits are not exclusively for end-of-life situations, but can also include situations where a resident was recently admitted to the home and are struggling with the change in environment and lack of family support.

• Other situations can include when a resident is grieving someone who recently passed away, a resident that may need encouragement to eat or drink that was previously provided by a family member or caregiver and is experiencing weight loss or dehydration, or when a resident is experiencing emotional distress.

• Facilities should work with residents, families, caregivers, resident representatives, clinicians, and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program to identify the need, length, and frequency of these visits.

• The order is available on coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Women’s Enterprise Certification:

• Beginning tomorrow, the Ohio Department Administrative Services (DAS) will launch the Ohio Women’s Enterprise Certification. This first-of-its-kind certification will allow women-owned businesses to seek certification from the Equal Employment Opportunity office at DAS.

Donate Life:

• Donate Life Ohio will be holding Ohio’s first-ever online donor registration drive today.  Donate Life's “Don’t Wait, Save 8” campaign encourages Ohioans to register online to become a donor, rather than waiting until a visit to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). In Ohio, more than 3,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

H2Ohio Update:

• Prior to today’s press conference, Governor DeWine visited the site of a future H2Ohio wetland complex in Wyandot County. The new wetland complex, with several new and restored wetlands, will be developed at the headwaters of the Blanchard River, which flows into Lake Erie. 

• H2Ohio is a comprehensive, data-driven water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination. An important part of this plan includes expanding and protecting wetlands throughout the state.

Ohio Task Force One Deployed:

• Governor DeWine acknowledged Ohio’s Task Force One as they were activated and deployed yesterday to assist those impacted by Hurricane Delta in Louisiana. Ohio’s Task Force One is headquartered near Dayton, Ohio, and serves as one of the top Urban Search and Rescue teams.