Wood County Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center’s Situation Report on COVID-19 Response for May 19
Executive Summary:
Gov. Mike DeWine – Today he is signing an order to lower flags to half-staff to honor Annie Glenn, widow of John Glenn. She passed away this morning. May is mental health awareness month. Kids are going through tough times right now and many may need our support.
Increase of 498 cases from yesterday. Revision of order being issued today – calling this an urgent health advisory rather than an order – Ohioans protecting Ohioans. Since the original stay at home order a lot has happened. Orders have evolved along with the circumstances. It is now time for the orders to reflect the reality of today.
Ohioans through social distancing have avoided overwhelming the hospitals, we have flattened the curve, The new rate of infection is now 1:1, it was 1:2 previously. Meaning that previously, 1 person on average could infect 2. This new health advisory incorporates all of the business orders, including employees wearing masks, etc. Vulnerable Ohioans are identified as those 65 or older, those of all ages with underlying health conditions (including asthma, lung disease, heart conditions, immune system issues, and more).
The advisory recommends these vulnerable individuals stay at home if able. The rest of Ohioans – we today call upon your sense of personal responsibility, considering that those not high risk can still carry the virus. These folks can also be vulnerable for developing other complications from the virus. Our advisory recommends but does not require that those “low risk” stay at home when possible to lower the rate of the spread, and to take protective action to limit the spread.
Travel – restrictions lifted. Unnecessary travel is permitted but not encouraged. We advise people to make their own judgments. Those who have tested positive and have not recovered or presumptively diagnosed, those showing symptoms should not enter the state unless it is for medical care. These individuals if they have traveled and become sick are then encouraged to isolate. The virus is not gone, it is real, and it is deadly. This new phase is about learning to live with the virus. It will be here with us for a while. Each of us has a responsibility to each other to slow to spread. What we do individually will be what saves Ohioans collectively.
Sadly, the Ohio VA informed us that one veteran confirmed positive did pass away today. VA Testing: Sandusky- 28 residents, 5 staff confirmed positive; Georgetown- 0 cases. A total of 818 staff and residents have tested negative between the two homes. Another corrections officer passed away today. BWC will begin distributing over 2 million face coverings. Face coverings are important and they help to protect others. Business orders and mass gathering orders remain unchanged. There will be no press conference tomorrow.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted – Next Tuesday, May 26, BMVs will be open. We need to prevent everyone from rushing there next week and creating a problem. Reminder – most things that you need from the BMV you can do online. If you have a license or an ID that is expired remember it is still valid because we were able to get a grace period extended through this emergency. If you do plan on going, use the get inline online tool before you go. Since March we have learned a lot about how to manage our risk individually and collectively. Without a vaccine we have to learn to live with this in our lives for some time. The goal now is to continue to educate and persuade fellow Ohioans to continue to do the right thing by each other. No order and no law will be as successful as a well-informed public who simply cares and respects each other. This is our collective mission moving forward. We did not have adequate testing until recently. This will also continue to improve.
Ohio Confirmed Cases: 27,106
Ohio Probable Cases: 1,846
Ohio Total Confirmed plus Probable: 28,952
Ohio Hospitalizations: 5,117
ICU Admissions: 1,357
Ohio Confirmed COVID Deaths: 1,556
Ohio Probable COVID Deaths: 164
Wood County Cases (total plus probable): 251
Wood County Hospitalizations: 62
Wood County Long Term Care Cases: 184
Wood County Deaths: 43
County EOC Objectives:
1. Coordinate the county’s response to limit spread of COVID-19; and maintain medical care.
2. Provide timely, clear, and consistent messaging to the public, stakeholders and media on the status of COVID-19 and actions the public can take to keep themselves safe.
3. Determine how county agencies will continue delivery of essential services to Wood County residents while following COVID-19 public health guidelines.
4. Prevent, identify, mitigate, and respond to COVID19 hotspots within the county.
EMA:
State EMA – The first portion of this week’s statewide PPE push was conducted; a second allotment will be delivered on Wednesday. A total of 87 counties provided details on PPE needs to help focus future pushes. A push for the week of May 24 has been approved. Efforts continued to formalize a plan for mask and sanitizer distribution to some of the state’s most at risk populations, to include aging, homeless, and migrant populations.
Heavy precipitation on May 18 have impacted local and state routes throughout the state; no significant impacts inhibiting State EOC response efforts have been identified. Total confirmed cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continue to increase. Statewide bed and ventilator capacity are projected to meet 30-day medical forecast needs.
Please vet all information being sent to you before sharing. Disinformation and misinformation are a real issue surrounding COVID-19. When you read something ask yourself- What is the source? Does it match other outlets? Are the sources reliable? Is the author credible? Does the content push your buttons? Recognize the risk, question the source, investigate the issue, think before you link, and talk to your circle. Disinformation can stop with you. Recently, disinformation campaigns through social media have produced conspiracy theories linking the expansion of 5G cellular networks to the spread of COVID-19. The theories claim the new 5G technology weakens the immune system leading to rapid spread of the virus. The disinformation campaigns are generated by violent extremists who encourage attacks on the network infrastructure. These theories have created the desire to damage or destroy the communications infrastructure leading to physical attacks on cell towers, even if the tower was not equipped with 5G capabilities.
An abbreviated version of this report can be found at: http://woodcountyema.org/covid-19/ .
Also, please contact us:
– If you have PPE to donate, if you have any PPE needs or have any questions.
– If you know citizens looking to purchase masks, please connect them with our office and we can give them the contact information of local mask sellers.
Businesses looking for large suppliers of cloth masks can contact Skyrocket/BiG Fab Labs at 419-466-0668 or kevin@skyrocketbox.com .
We are working with local dentist offices and doctors’ offices in securing access to PPE as they open back up.
Ohio Emergency PPE Maker’s Exchange is an available online resource to share and purchase personal protective equipment created through the ingenuity of Ohio manufacturers who have answered the call to help. https://repurposingproject.sharetribe.com/
Public Health:
There are 27,106 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ohio. There are 251 cases (total confirmed plus probable) presently in Wood County, 62 of those hospitalized, 184 in long term care, 43 deaths.
Health department staff are answering calls regarding testing, essential business concerns, employee safety, the stay-at-home order and many other questions.
Case follow-up and contact tracing is being coordinated by a team of employees.
Wood County residents who feel they may have coronavirus are encouraged to complete a survey that will help local public health better track the illness. Wood County residents are asked to report coronavirus symptoms at https://tinyurl.com/WoodCountyCOVID19 .
Healthcare:
For formal resource requests, please contact us at: woodcountyema@co.wood.oh.us .
If an agency doesn’t have fit test capability and they need staff fit tested, Wood County Hospital Ready Works does fit testing for N95 masks. The cost is $25/person. They need to bring their own mask, schedule in advance 419-373-4162, complete a questionnaire, and takes about 15 minutes per person.
Law Enforcement/Fire/EMS:
Happy National EMS week.
Wood County Health Department is implementing testing symptomatic first responders or their immediate household family members through UTMC. Requests for testing must be sent by the Chief to FRCovid19@co.wood.oh.us
Wood County Parks District
Wood County Park District parks and preserves are open daily from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes past sunset. Observe social distancing of 6-10 feet from anyone who does not live in a household. Restrooms are open. Park-goers are asked to wear a mask inside the restroom. Through June 22, playgrounds and facilities are closed, programs and events are canceled, and park district headquarters are closed to the public.
Wood County Fair:
Starting Friday, May 22, the fairgrounds will have fair food available on the grounds. Please come out and support our fairgrounds and our vendors.
BGSU:
Now publishing a situation report once/week.
BGSU said its plan is to open in the fall, but the administration and leadership understands the need to be flexible and consider online and remote options. In addition to social distancing and health monitoring, BGSU dining facilities will change how they serve food and accommodate seating.
Local:
The Bowling Green Board of Education will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. The board members will meet remotely with the public able to watch the meeting via YouTube: https://youtu.be/lEi59D51ulw
BGSU and Food for Thought Mobile Pantry Thursday, May 28 from 2-4 p.m., 1526 E.t Wooster St., Bowling Green (First United Methodist parking lot) While the pantry cannot serve food on campus and is not accepting volunteers right now, we want to continue to serve anyone in need by holding a drive-thru mobile food pantry. The Center for Public Impact, along with community partners Food for Thought of Toledo, United Way Wood County, First United Methodist, and the BGSU Student Nutrition Association have co-sponsored this mobile pantry. Despite being a drive-thru pantry, if a car is not accessible to you, you can still walk through the pantry, we will just maintain appropriate social distance from you in addition to the other safety precautions we will already be taking.
Since they had to cancel our Red Cross Blood Drives at Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Red Cross wanted me to reach out to everyone and make you aware of locations in our community that are available for donations. The dates are in the same window for donations if you were signed up for a drive here at WCBDD. To schedule an appointment at one of these sites please visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: GOODSHEPHERD or call 1-800-Red-Cross, (733-2767). The drives are as follows:
– Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., BGSU – Perry Field House (free parking). To schedule an appointment visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code BGSU or call 1-800- Red Cross.
– Saturday, June 13, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, 5589 Holcomb Road, Wayne.
Administrative Information:
Any information and contributions your agency has for this report is valuable to maintain a common operating picture and situational awareness for the county as a whole.
Please reach out to our office via phone or email (email preferred) to share information.
EOC Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Requesting support: Call Wood County EMA at 419-354-9269 or email
woodcountyema@co.wood.oh.us
ODH Call line: 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)
www.coronavirus.ohio.gov
