Wood County Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center’s Situation Report on COVID-19 Response
This April 30 report communicates Wood County Emergency Operations Center’s activity over the past 24 hours.
Executive Summary:
Annette Chambers, Director Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections: We have a pandemic plan, and we have had it for quite some time. We had tabletop exercises in February, began PPE procurement and had a commodities strike force put in place. We also began making sanitizer, face shields, masks in house in the prisons. We changed some policies, waived and changed those that included outlawing alcohol based sanitizer and wipes.
We stopped moving prisoners, changed programming, cohorted prisoners and staff, we have been doing contact tracing, CDC has been to visit a prison to offer advice, Dr. Weir looks at our plans from an environmental standpoint to ensure we’re using best practice. All of this has been going on since February.
We have gotten help from the National Guard, OSP, OSU, and more are all assisting with the safety of the prisons. We started staff screening March 11. The reason we tested everyone at Marion Correctional, Franklin Medical Center (stepdown from a hospital), and Pickaway (has a 68 person dialysis unit and LTC facility with a prison wrapped around it) was because there was some COVID present in these facilities.
We originally decided to test everyone thinking we would be able to move people around. We were surprised to see how many asymptomatic tested positive. With that number it was not realistic. Now, we are doing spot and sample testing as ordered by the clinicians, testing those being released, sampling and surveillance by the medical director. This is so we can take care of the people that are actually sick.
Forty% of the population live in cells. The folks in cells are more protected, they can only come out without a mask on. They aren’t interacting with a lot of different people. 60% is open bay housing, this is a situation that becomes a little more difficult to control. We have made hotel stays available for staff if they want to utilize that.
Gov. Mike DeWine – The best way to protect each other is the distance. We are going to start fairly soon testing the general population. We are phasing these things in so we don’t have the curve trending up again. We have set the dates to move forward in May for retail. These stores are planning and getting ready. I understand everyone is anxious to get moving, but this is a balance.
We need also to protect the public. This is why we are layering this and not opening everything at once. That would be a mistake. The stay at home order will be extended with exceptions (retail when that opens up, etc.).
Dr. Amy Acton – Thanked Director Annette Chambers. 133,000 Ohioans tested so far. Our ability to watch and learn from this is so important. We are learning together and trying to find the sweet spot.
Maximizing what we can do and minimize the spread of the virus. With increased testing you will see more cases. You need to look for trends.
Ohio Confirmed Cases: 17,285
Ohio Probable Cases: 742
Ohio Total Confirmed plus Probable: 18,027
Ohio Hospitalizations: 3,533
ICU Admissions: 1,035
Ohio Confirmed COVID Deaths: 898
Ohio Probable COVID Deaths: 77
Wood County Cases (total plus probable): 165
Wood County Hospitalizations: 51
Wood County Long Term Care Cases: 118
Wood County Deaths: 20
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:
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. We are also looking for individuals selling cloth masks so we can connect citizens looking for them. If you are one of these people making masks for a fee or a donation please send us your information to have on hand if we find people looking. We have had some phone calls and have been able to connect these individuals. Businesses looking for large suppliers of cloth masks can contact Skyrocket/BiG Fab Labs at 419-466-0668 or kevin@skyrocketbox.com .
EMA and public health have been working with areas of concern and identified “hotspots” in the county to ensure their PPE supply is adequate to meet the needs of the situation. We continue to accept, inventory, and fulfill PPE resource requests.
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 17,285 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ohio. There are 165 cases (total confirmed plus probable) presently in Wood County, 51 of those hospitalized, 118 in long term care, and 20 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 close 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:
Please realize that our agency is continually taking in donations and pushing out resource requests. Our abilities change similar to your needs. For formal resource requests, please contact us at: woodcountyema@co.wood.oh.us .
Law Enforcement/Fire/EMS:
Grant funding is available for law enforcement. Ocjs.ohio.gov for more information
Many PPE requests have been submitted and addressed. If you have a need, please put in a formal request in writing to: woodcountyema@co.wood.oh.us . Please realize that our agency is continually taking in donations and pushing out resource requests. Our abilities change similar to your needs.
Wood County Health Department is implementing a new procedure for 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
For the past 15 months, the Wood County First Responder Support Team has been reaching out to those who need help dealing with the stress, whether it’s directly related to incidents on the job or life issues with family, marriage, kids. The support team offers first responders a chance to talk one on one, with full confidentiality, to a peer – someone who knows the drill. These volunteers have been trained through the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.
Wood County Commissioners:
Effective Wednesday, April 29, all people entering the Courthouse Complex and all Wood County buildings are required to wear a mask, scarf, or other covering on their face prior to entering. Additionally, all visitors will have their temperature taken and be asked several health questions before being permitted to proceed. If they have a fever greater than 100 degrees, they must wait while a representative of the office they wish to visit is contacted.. To obtain phone numbers to County offices and departments, please access the County website: www.co.wood.oh.us To obtain information by phone, please call (419)354-9000 or 1-866-860-4140 (toll free).
Wood County Clerk of Courts:
Starting Monday, the public will be able to schedule an appointment with the Wood County Clerk of Courts, Auto Title Office to allow them to process personal vehicle titling matters. Cindy Hofner, clerk of courts, issued the press release on Wednesday. Hofner is revising the office hours on a temporary basis from to 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call the title office at 419-354-9182 to schedule an appointment. Masks and social distancing requirements will be enforced. People who are not feeling well, should stay home. No one will be allowed into the title office without a previously scheduled appointment.
Wood County Landfill:
The public drop-off area of the Wood County Landfill will reopen on Friday, May 1. This area has been closed since the governor issued the Shelter-in-Place Order. All people coming to do business at the landfill are required to wear a mask, scarf, or covering on their face while at the payment window. Please be prepared with your own mask
BGSU:
Publishing a situation report twice/week.
BGSU is planning to reduce the domestic, non-resident surcharge to $1 per credit hour for out-of-state students who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Ohio from an Ohio institution and who enroll in a degree-seeking graduate program for the 2020-2021 academic school year, starting with fall 2020.
Dr. Xiaohong Tan, an assistant professor of chemistry at Bowling Green State University, has an idea to prevent coronaviruses from infecting humans. His idea merited the National Science Foundation’s approval for a one-year, $200,000 grant to fund his research.
BGSU Athletics is partnering with Campus Pollyeyes, Sam B’s, and Jimmy John’;s to feed local hospital, nursing home, law enforcement, and grocery store workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. For every meal purchased you will receive a FREE ticket to BGSU Football’s 2020 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 12. You can be a part of the fight and help make a difference.
Local:
BG Municipal Court – Friday, May 1, all people entering the Bowling Green Municipal Court facility will be required to wear a face mask, scarf, shield or other face covering. Six-feet social distancing will be maintained. The court will not provide face masks or have them available for the general public. Visitors will have their temperatures taken and be asked basic health questions. Visitors with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, or who have been exposed to COVID-19 will be denied entry.
Staff from Eastwood and Lake school districts are planning parades next week. Lake’s parade will be Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. on the campus, off Ohio 795, in Millbury. The parade will celebrate staff. To participate, enter the campus from the high school driveway and follow the marked route, which will exit from the elementary lot.
Eastwood will hold a staff appreciation parade on Wednesday from 6:30-7 p.m. on campus. Cars will enter the campus via the bus loop in front of Eastwood Elementary on Sugar Ridge Road and wind through and exit out on Luckey Road by the high school. Students are invited to wave and say hello to a favorite teacher or bus driver.
COVID-19 testing will occur at Bowling Green State University at the Perry Field House located at 801 N. Mercer Road, today from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Ohioans can register at: http://krogerhealth.com/covidtesting . People needing a test will use a virtual screening tool based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to see if they are eligible. Those who are eligible for the testing include CDC Priority 1, 2 and 3. Criteria for testing include persons with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) who: Are healthcare workers, are first responders (EMS, fire, law enforcement), are 65 years of age or older, are critical infrastructure workers with symptoms, have a chronic health condition (heart disease, lung disease or an immune-system-lowering condition, such as diabetes), experience mild symptoms and live in communities with high numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Those eligible will next select the appropriate testing location and appointment time. Then, registrants will receive an email confirmation with pre-appointment paperwork. When the patient arrives for a test, they should have a photo ID ready and leave their windows rolled up for check-in. A healthcare practitioner will approach the car and alert the patient when to roll down their window. The drive-thru testing location has a self-administered nasal swab that must be ordered and observed by a provider. Kroger determined this testing methodology is beneficial as it increases the number of tests that can be provided while conserving the personal protective equipment utilized.
In conjunction with the new Wood County Senior Center construction, South Grove Street will be closed to traffic from West Wooster Street to Clough Street. The closure will occur from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, reopening each night. The closure is required to perform sanitary and storm sewer connections
United Way of Greater Toledo is providing safe and socially distant volunteer opportunities, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drastically impact health and human services across Lucas, Wood and Ottawa counties. For individuals who would like to volunteer, visit www.211nwo.org . There, you will see two content rows, one noting “Volunteer Opportunities” and the other “Agencies in Need of Volunteers.” By clicking on “Volunteer Opportunities,” you will be able to add your contact information to a volunteer email list, which allows you to hear about new or updated volunteer happenings first. You can view and sign up for open opportunities today when selecting “sign up to volunteer now.”
State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, introduced legislation to repeal sales and use tax on personal protective equipment through the end of this year to lessen the economic cost on Ohioans as they return to work.
The next food distribution and senior food box program will be held Friday, May 1, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church, 1526 E. Wooster St., Bowling Green. Free fresh produce and other food will be available in limited quantities. This is for anyone in Wood County who meets the income guidelines or who has recently lost their job. SeaGate Food Bank will also be present at the same time to hand out Senior Boxes to those who meet their eligibility requirements. There will also be an additional free box of food handed out by Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. There will be a new drive-thru set-up this month to distribute food in accordance with current guidelines to help prevent the spread of viruses. You are asked to remain in your vehicles in the church parking lot and wait for volunteer instructions. Our volunteers appreciate your patience as we try to continue to serve those in need safely. Contact the church if you have questions at 419-353-0682.
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
