Gov. Mike DeWine stopped in Toledo today, delivering a message that overall Ohioans have done fairly well so far with the virus. However, the trends in the state are now becoming disturbing.
The biggest takeaway was that he emphasized the importance of mask wearing in the rural areas, and referred to the masks as a ticket to freedom. Statewide the positivity rates have gone up. A couple of weeks ago it was down to 2.5% and Thursday it was up to 3.9%. The cases now seem to be averaging 1,500/day, when not too long ago they were at 1,000/day.
There is real spread throughout the state, DeWine said. Today the urban areas are not out of the woods but they are doing better than many rural counties. To address these concerns, DeWine traveled from Toledo to Lima, then to Dayton.
The reason for today’s visit is that Northwest Ohio counties’ rates and cases have become exceedingly high in the last few weeks. He then individually went through some of those counties – referencing new data from the last two weeks.
Lucas County – 67 cases/100,000 and are doing fairly well. The local health department reports that cases had previously plateaued but are beginning to again climb. Some kids are being sent to school sick. To keep schools open, they cannot be coming to school sick.
Defiance County – 233/100,000 over double the CDC high incidence rate of 100/100,000. Close contacts, gatherings, long-term care facility workers are some of the problem areas reported by their health department. Spread in the community can impact nursing homes and schools. There was an early outbreak at Defiance College, but only one case this week there. They have been aggressive in their recent measures. They are also using wastewater detection to get a jump on this.
Fulton County – highest county in the region now with almost three times high incidence rate of 287/100,000. The local health department referenced long-term care facility outbreaks and case spread in family and friend groups. People are letting their guard down, DeWine said.
Henry County – 214/100,000 over double CDC high incidence rate. Local health department reports long-term care facility cases and issues in schools. DeWine then again reiterated – don’t send your kids to school sick. Outbreaks from large family gatherings, while mask wearing is not what it should be, he said.
Wood County – 162/100,000, with 213 cases and 18 people hospitalized in the last two weeks. Most cases are from BGSU. Students are following guidance on campus, trouble lies outside of the classroom gatherings. These are what is causing a lot of spread. The local health department reports students are using loopholes. Kids in groups of 10 or less travel to one house party then move to another party, DeWine said.
Hancock County – 154/100,000.
Williams County – 100/100,000, right on the line of high incidence.
Putnam County – 259/100,000, 2.5 CDC high incidence rate.
Wyandot County – getting close to the 100/100,000 mark as well.
These are concerning numbers, DeWine said.
Ohio is seeing that these things take time to develop. The state is now seeing a movement from younger people getting sick then the rebound effect as they flip that over to someone older and cause hospitalization and death.
Across the state, cases are coming from weddings, funerals, parties, and social gatherings. Some have come from schools but it’s a rare case that’s been occurring in the classroom. DeWine said the spreads have been outside schools when people getting together.
The state has done well, but some disturbing numbers are showing up in western and northwestern Ohio.
DeWine also talked about PPE production with N95 masks being produced in Ohio. In Sylvania and in Fremont companies are making face shields. Millbury is making nasal swabs. Ohio has seen a partnership with JobsOhio for these companies to make the PPE needed locally.
“We can slow this down if people wear masks. We don’t want to shut the state down,” the governor said.
Local health departments are reporting anecdotal spread of COVID from parties, gatherings, not wearing masks, funerals, and weddings. Having 300-400 people at a wedding or a funeral is asking for trouble, DeWine said, suggesting that couples get married and have a small party, then wait on the large one until after the virus is gone.
The economy will be far worse off if the state continues to see the numbers flare up and folks are still not wearing masks. What people do in their communities matters.
“If you want your kid in school, we have to slow this down. Please wear a mask and encourage your friends to wear them in the community,” DeWine said.
As for protests, the state has never told people they can’t protest, Ohio never closed churches. The state has just been encouraging mask wearing at all of these events.
DeWine suggested that people keep trying to have these events outside, wearing masks and keeping social distance. The state isn’t seeing big problems from places following the rules.
As for voting, the governor again asked people to wear masks. There are workers there sitting there for hours and coming into contact with a lot of people. Be kind and courteous to these workers, he said.
Mask compliance in rural areas is not as high as it is in urban or suburban areas. A lot of spread by people coming together at funerals, weddings and parties. Many times people have it and don’t know they have it.
People let their guard down with family and friends. The governor asked that people assume everyone they interact with has it in order to keep safe.
