By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Gov. Mike DeWine has closed K-12 schools in Ohio starting Monday for three weeks. Nursing homes have been ordered to allow residents just one visitor a day – after they pass a screening. And gatherings of 100 or more people have been prohibited.
Meanwhile, local public health officials are working to lessen the brunt of COVID-19 in Wood County.
Thursday morning, officials from public health, emergency management, schools, nursing homes, the hospital, Wood Lane, the senior center, law enforcement and fire departments planned a course of action.
“Enjoy this meeting,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey said to those gathered – because they wouldn’t be meeting again for an unknown period of time.
Batey put to rest questions about public health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“No, we are not over-reacting,” Batey said.
Unless the curve of COVID-19 cases can be leveled out, health care systems in the U.S. will be overwhelmed, he said. In Italy, where the virus has hit particularly hard, all businesses are closed except for groceries and pharmacies.
“We don’t want to get to that point,” Batey said.
On Thursday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio was at five, with another 52 being investigated. But Ohio Department of Health officials believe up to 100,000 Ohioans have been infected with the virus.
Batey praised the state’s proactive approach to COVID-19.
“You’ve seen things happening in Ohio that two months ago, I would have thought were impossible,” Batey said.
Local officials are following suit. BGSU canceled in-person classes starting after Friday. Many community events have been called off. Senior centers across Wood County will be shutting down, except for home meal deliveries. Local nursing homes will allow one visitor per patient a day – as long as the visitors pass health screenings.
“We all need to start thinking – does this event absolutely have to happen?” Batey said. “This becomes our new normal over several months. It’s going to be a change for us. Every single life will be affected.”
Batey asked everyone at the meeting to work together to stem the tide.
“You are going to be public health’s front line,” he said.
“We don’t want Wood County to be a hotspot,” he said. “We all have to work together because it’s going to take all of us to protect the older members of our community.”
Businesses need to consider if employees can work from home. Can meetings be held by phone or computer? Can workspaces be spread out so people don’t come within six feet of others?
Is hand sanitizer available? Are surfaces being disinfected?
This morning Batey predicted DeWine’s closure of schools would be forthcoming. The decision will doubtless send parents scrambling to find care for their kids. But they should not rely on older members of the family, since children often act as carriers of the virus, and seniors are the most vulnerable.
“He wants parents to be prepared for that – because it’s going to happen,” Batey said.
People can prevent or prepare by washing hands with soap and water, keeping distance from others, stocking up on extra food supplies, planning childcare – then coming up with a Plan B.
“Now’s the time to think about that,” said Wood County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Klein.
Information about COVID-19 changes rapidly. “It changes on an hour-by-hour basis,” Batey said.
But as of this morning – no, there is “not an abundance of tests” for the disease in Ohio, according to DeWine. Local hospitals or physicians’ offices can collect specimens, but the actual testing is done in Columbus or at private labs.
Unless they pay private labs, people cannot just be tested, according to Amy Jones, director of health promotion and preparedness with the local health department. They must exhibit symptoms, have traveled to other affected countries, or have been exposed to a person with the disease.
The virus can live an estimated 24 hours outside the body, Batey said. So people should be more diligent about cleaning surfaces throughout the day, especially “touchpoints” like door knobs.
People need to get information about COVID-19 from reliable sources – not Facebook, Klein said. Ready.gov is a good source, he said.
Thursday’s meeting gave officials a chance to address concerns particular to their agencies – such as nursing homes, the county jail, or the Children’s Resource Center residential unit.
“Once it’s in that nursing home or jail, you’re going to have a very difficult time,” Batey said.
Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson asked about jury trials – which are small gatherings, but which require the jury to spend days together in small rooms.
Batey said it would be prudent to screen potential jurors for health concerns, then consider finding a larger room for them to deliberate in, so they can keep more space between each other.
Wood County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Reynolds suggested that people self-quarantining at home can sign up for the sheriff’s office’s “Are You Okay” program, which checks in on people with daily phone calls.
A question was raised about who has the authority to enforce orders from the governor or public health officials.
“The law gives public health some broad authority – but we’re hoping to not have to use it,” Batey said. “I don’t see us getting to that point in Wood County. I feel like most people are going to follow through.”
Even with decisions that have an economic impact, Batey said he has not yet encountered resistance.
“I haven’t gotten any push-back in Wood County,” he said.
