By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County officials have no idea how many residents here have COVID-19 since so few tests are available.
On Sunday it was announced that the first two positive tests came back for a local couple in their 60s. Meanwhile more cases are being tracked of untested people with symptoms who are isolating at home in Wood County.
But because of the lack of tests for the virus, it’s impossible to know how widespread it is here. And that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
The federal government and private labs need to ramp up production of the tests, Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey said Tuesday morning during a conference call with local county, municipal and township officials.
But even when more tests are available, they aren’t likely to be shipped here, Batey said.
“The issue for us is – I see those going to higher populated areas,” such as New York City which is currently seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases, he said. “The tests are going to go where the need is more drastic.”
“We just won’t have the case numbers” to warrant many tests here, Batey said.
On Sunday morning, the first two positive tests for COVID-19 in Wood County were reported to the health department. The couple had recently returned from a trip to Spain and went immediately from the airport to isolate at home, Batey said. The two were tested at a drive-through site in Lucas County.
“I’m fully confident that they were no risk to individuals in Wood County,” Batey said.
But the health department is keeping track of other local residents who are showing symptoms or who have had contact with others who have tested positive.
“The health department has been following up on other cases,” Batey said. The people, who have symptoms such as fever, coughing and shortness of breath, are isolating at their homes.
So, while state maps only show two cases in Wood County, Batey is confident the actual number is higher.
“There is community-wide spread of this,” he said.
“But we don’t have the testing capability to test these people – at the local or state level,” Batey said.
It is unknown how many Wood County residents have been tested, however, Batey said the numbers are low.
“It’s not to the capacity that the public is generally thinking,” he said.
Initially, the health department and Wood County Hospital had hoped to set up a drive-through testing site. But at the end of last week, it was instead announced that tests would be reserved for hospital patients and those treating them.
“It turned out that just wasn’t a reality,” Batey said of the drive-through testing. “That is a challenge for us. A lot of the supplies are just unavailable right now.”
And the priority is to test hospital patients and the health care professionals who care for them.
“This is trying to protect our health care workforce,” he said.
Batey repeated his prediction that Ohio likely would not see its peak in COVID-19 cases until the end of April or beginning of May.
“When you compare us to what they have seen in other countries – that’s the challenge right now,” he said. “This isn’t something that goes away in a week or two.”
Batey understands the desire to get Ohio citizens and businesses back in full swing. But he worries about the price.
“At some point we’re going to have to get people back to work,” he said. But the comeback must be slow so as to not overwhelm health care systems.
“Our goal is to spread out the cases over a period of time,” Batey said. “This is going to be our new normal for a while.”
Other issues discussed Tuesday on the conference call included:
- People who still must report to work should maintain a distance of six feet between others. “You treat them just like they are working from home,” with co-workers emailing or calling them, rather than walking up to them, Batey said.
- Wood County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Klein said his office would be reaching out to groups like Kiwanis, Exchange and Rotary clubs to get help delivering meals to those in need.
- State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg, stressed the need for citizens to get information from reliable sources. He suggested coronavirus.ohio.gov or the Ohio Department of Health call center at 833-427-5634.
- Ghanbari said Ohio may extend the state tax filing deadline to July 15.
- Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson cautioned that public entities still need to meet the requirements of open meeting laws during this pandemic.
- Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw reported that county offices are operating with skeleton staffing, and visitors to county offices are asked to call first.
- Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn talked about efforts at the jail to prevent COVID-19. A story will be forthcoming.
