COVID-19 Alert - September 17

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested:  2,710,749

• 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: 141,585 (15,186 of which are health care workers)

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 1,067

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 1,084

• Total Deaths:  4,580

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 25

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 24

• Total Hospitalizations: 14,625 (3,149 of which are in the intensive care unit)

• Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 65

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 70

County-by-County Update:

• The number of counties with cases that exceed the Centers for Disease Control’s threshold for high incidence is now at 21 (it was formerly at 17). New counties to the high incidence list include: Athens, Delaware, Greene, Harrison and Pickaway.

Updated Travel Advisory:

• Based on current positivity rates, Ohioans are encouraged to avoid travel to: Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi and South Dakota. Additional details can be found here: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/families-and-individuals/covid-19-travel-advisory/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Halloween Masks Required:

• Governor DeWine noted that Halloween celebrations will not look like those in years past. Face coverings must be worn, social distancing should be practiced, and large groups should be avoided.

• The state is developing guidance for families and communities to plan for the holiday, which can be found at: coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Migrant & Seasonal Farm Worker Assistance:

• The state released a Rapid Response Guide for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers to support local health districts in developing a culturally appropriate plan to respond to COVID, which can be found here: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/docs/Migrant-Seasonal-Farmworker-Guide.pdf.

• The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will award $2.6 million in CARES Act funding to agricultural camp operators to improve the health and safety of their worksites and camps to reduce COVID-19 transmission. In addition, ODH will distribute face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant cleaner, and digital forehead thermometers to workers and operators.

School & Children Dashboards Live:

• Governor DeWine announced that the ‘Schools Dashboard’ on http://coronavirus.ohio.gov, which provides parents and caregivers with information to make decisions about their child’s education and social interactions, is now live. The dashboard shows new and cumulative COVID cases reported to schools by parents/guardians and staff. You can filter by county or school district and it includes students and staff.

• In addition, the ‘Children and Covid Dashboard’ is also live. This provides information about cases, hospitalizations, and deaths and was created in consultation with the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association.

Imagination Library Update:

• First Lady Fran DeWine provided an update on Ohio’s Imagination Library, announcing a new partnership with COSI. They have partnered together to create fun learning opportunities for children. 

Wastewater Surveillance Network:

• Ohio’s Coronavirus Wastewater Surveillance Network has been monitoring incoming waste at wastewater treatment plants around the state to test for gene fragments of COVID-19.

• Ohio is currently testing in more than 30 cities across the state and will expand testing to more than 50 locations in the next month.

Pandemic Assistance:

• The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services began distributing $300 per week in Lost Wages Assistance to eligible unemployment insurance recipients.

• This assistance is available to Ohioans who received traditional unemployment benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Trade Readjustment Assistance, SharedWork Ohio or extended benefits for weeks ending August 1st through September 5th.