Wood County Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center’s Situation Report on COVID-19 Response for May 12
Executive Summary:
Gov. Mike DeWine – Today, all retail is able to be back open. We are all in this together. It is so important we continue to keep our distance of at least 6 feet and wear your mask as a courtesy to those working and serving you.
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services received notice that the EBT plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The pandemic EBT program will allow JFS to distribute SNAP benefits to 850,000 students in need across Ohio. Families do not need to apply to be eligible.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted – Massage, tattoo, and piercing parlors are regulated differently than the other personal service industries. This is why they were not included in the original scheduled opening for personal services. This has since been straightened out and all of these will be allowed to reopen May 15 with proper protocols. Please respect the employees working in these facilities.
Dr. Amy Acton – The trends have overall been in a flat plateau. Testing numbers have been going up. Most of our testing has gone to high risk situations (nursing homes, hospitals, etc.). We ask that nursing homes talk with family members whenever there is an outbreak. We need to be transparent and handle these outbreaks properly. A nursing home shouldn’t be ashamed to have a case. If something doesn’t seem right call your local health department.
“Wearing a mask isn’t a sign of submission, rather it is a sign of respect, responsibility and economic encouragement. It says I am doing my part.” – Peggy Noonan.
This is still pretty treacherous time, the virus is still out there. We’ve got to be responsible when we go out, it is not the time to have these mass gatherings, be careful when you go out. It is not the time to go browsing, it is a time to go in and get what you need. Many of our citizens are still vulnerable to this and we learn a lot about the disease every day.
Maureen Corcoran (Director of Medicaid) – There is a 15 person team working since March to focus on the issues of people served in congregate environments. We serve 70,000 Ohioans in nursing facilities.
There are about 42,000 Ohioans are in various assisted living environments. We knew early that COVID would be difficult for those older adults and those with various health conditions. There has been a newly established partnership between hospitals and nursing facilities. This is a local collaboration between local hospital, health department, and others. Significant regulatory relief has been put in place across number of departments to free up nursing homes to allow them to focus on more pressing matters. A toolkit has been developed to provide assistance to staff across the state released in early April and being revised now with the most up to date information.
Testing policy changes – expanding to become more aggressive in these congregate environments. This is intended to stop the virus whenever we are aware of a circumstance or have concerns. This will allow them to deploy additional resources early to help mitigate the situation.
There have been infection control strike teams formed. Healthcare isolation centers have been selected- these are to be able to quarantine individuals and provide extra care.
Director McElroy (Ohio Department of Aging Director) – Long term care Ombudsman program is in place. The Ohio Department of Aging is offering “Staying Connected” program, a free, check in calls for older Ohioans that can comfort them and connect them with services if needed.
Ohio Confirmed Cases: 2,3809
Ohio Probable Cases: 1,441
Ohio Total Confirmed plus Probable: 25,250
Ohio Hospitalizations: 4,539
ICU Admissions: 1,232
Ohio Confirmed COVID Deaths: 1,303
Ohio Probable COVID Deaths: 133
Wood County Cases (total plus probable): 227
Wood County Hospitalizations: 59
Wood County Long Term Care Cases: 158
Wood County Deaths: 34
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:
Current models show statewide medical capacity capable of handling COVID-19 stressors. Efforts are continued to prevent hotspots, and additional PPE is being located as needed. Two PPE pushes have occurred this week.
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, or 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 locating 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 23,809 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ohio. There are 227 cases (total confirmed plus probable) presently in Wood County, 59 of those hospitalized, 158 in long term care, 34 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:
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:
Pemberville Emergency Vehicles plan to salute hospital employees tonight from 6 to 7 on the Wood County Hospital campus for their commitment to fighting COVID-19. This is perfect timing with this week being National Hospital Week
This week is National Police Week. This week we celebrate and thank all local, state, and federal peace officers, who put their life on the line, every day to protect our communities. It also pays tribute to those peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. Thank you to all police officers.
Wood County Health Department has implemented a 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
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.
BGSU:
Publishing a situation report twice/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.
It is the final week of Meals for Hometown Heroes and BGSU Athletics is partnering with Jimmy John’s to feed Meijer, Walmart and Kroger workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID- 19. Please click the link below to provide a free meal for these hometown heroes. 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:
All Wood County Junior Fair members will register their livestock online. Attached is the link to the Wood County Fair management system. All entries must be received by June 1.
The Weston Alumni Association Committee felt compelled to cancel the 2020 Alumni Banquet due to the coronavirus. Since the virus can be extremely dangerous to the elderly and all of our members are over the age 80, the committee did not want to endanger anyone or possibly spread the virus.
Perrysburg: Important Message for Business Owners – The current emergency has very likely had a material impact on your business. The City of Perrysburg wants to learn about that impact, because it is committed to learn from this unprecedented business shutdown. To do that, the city has prepared a very short survey. Answering the survey will take just a couple minutes. The survey link can be found on the city’s main home page under COVID-19 Economic Impact Survey or by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/PburgSurvey
The public boat docks at Hood Park were installed over this past weekend with the help of Perrysburg Boat Club. The public boat docks at Hood Park are now open for the season. The Summer Rec Program continues to work on a plan for engaging families virtually.
Wood County Historical Museum: In the interest of public health, the 2020 Tea Series will be rescheduled for 2021. All of the speakers slated for 2020 are still excited to share their stories, so all program topics will remain the same. All reservations will automatically transfer to its corresponding 2021 date unless we are notified otherwise. Any attendee who would not like to make this transfer can contact the museum for a refund or may consider their payment a tax-deductible donation to help offset the impact of COVID-19. The creative team at the Wood County Museum wants to keep you connected, and is thrilled to announce new rotating outdoor porch exhibits for the public throughout the summer. The first exhibit, “Journey Stories,” shows how the evolution of transportation and mobility changed the landscape of early Wood County and is a nod towards the 2020 bicentennial. This exhibit will be on display from the museum porch through May 27.
The St. Aloysius Food Pantry in Bowling Green is open and operating at its normal hours – weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 3 p.m. The pantry is located at the church office at 150 S. Enterprise St., but please access the pantry at the Clough Street parking lot/office entrance. In this time of COVID-19, our volunteers are practicing the appropriate health recommendations of social distancing, facial coverings, frequent handwashing and disinfecting our carts. A pre-packed “bin” of pantry items, as well as fresh produce and bakery items, are available. No ID or proof of income required.
The Bowling Green Farmers Market will open for the season on May 13. Hours are 4-7 p.m. It is located downtown in the Huntington Bank parking lot in the 200 block of South Main Street. The farmers market will be dedicating the first hour weekly from 4-5 p.m. for vulnerable shoppers. Vulnerable shoppers include the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has released the stipulations for the 2020 season of the farmers markets, according to the Bowling Green group’s Facebook page.
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
