By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A sobering statistic was presented to the Wood County Board of Health Thursday evening. During COVID, the number of deaths in Wood County averaged 206 more each year during 2020 and 2021, compared to the 1,169 average number of deaths annually from 2015 through 2019.
But those numbers were followed by the very welcome news that reports of new COVID cases are in a consistent downward trend in the county.
“The COVID numbers look really good right now,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison reported.
While the county remains in the “medium risk” category, it’s the first time in “many, many months” that the county has fallen below the “substantial transmission” level, Robison said.
The following numbers were reported by the health department on Thursday:
- 81 total new COVID cases in last 7 days.
- 62 cases per 100,000 people in last 7 days.
- Average of 12 new cases per day in last 7 days.
- No new hospitalizations reported from Feb. 18-24.
- 5 new deaths from COVID occurred between Jan. 24 and Feb. 9, with the age range of 57-96.
Robison cautioned that the county could see some slight bumps in COVID numbers, but the numbers look good right now.
The falling COVID case numbers led to the discussion of the health department’s mask mandate in its building. The board voted to follow the standards currently in place, mandating masks in the community health center, where patients are seen, as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, elsewhere in the health department, masks will be recommended but not required, starting on Monday.
The only exception is for people who have used a medical or religious exemption to not be vaccinated against COVID. They will need to continue masking, as required by the CMS.
“The sooner we can get back to what we know as normal, from 2018-2019, the better,” said board member Richard Strow.
“We’ve just got to get back to normal,” board member D.J. Mears agreed.
In other business, the board voted to spend up to $20,000 to send mailers about COVID vaccinations to adults aged 18-64 in Wood County. Information had already been mailed to senior citizens in the county.
The costs will be paid for using either FEMA funds or state funds designated for COVID expenses. The only vote against the mailers came from board member Rachel Bowlus.
The board also reviewed preliminary building plans which would increase the number of examination rooms in the community health center. The health department has already secured $515,000 for the project.
The board voted Thursday to allow Robison to ask the Wood County Commissioners for COVID relief funds if needed for uncovered COVID expenses and possibly for a future building expansion.
