By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Though the Health Department and Board of Health are eager to put the coronavirus pandemic behind them, the effects continued to ripple through the board’s meeting on Thursday.
The board ended its meeting, after holding a brief executive session, by approving a new position, a public health education and information manager. This position is in addition to the community outreach coordinator.
“We’ve seen through COVID the necessity of having additional communications capacity here at Wood County Health Department,” Health Commissioner Ben Robison said. “ So this is an opportunity to invest in that.”
Even before the pandemic increasing awareness and education was a top priority. Adding the new position, he said, will expand “our ability to communicate with our public and promote healthy behaviors and ideas.”
The new coordinator will oversee media relations, messaging campaigns, and health education promotion. “They’ll really manage our brand and carry our message into the community,” Robison said.
Earlier in the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of Alex Aspacher, from the community outreach coordinator position. Aspacher is taking a new job at TMACOG (Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments).
Robison reported that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that more than half of public health workers had suffered symptoms of mental stress, including a third reporting symptoms of depression in a two-week period.
Robison said that another report found that the number of public health workers considering leaving the profession has jumped to 44 percent. It’s normally in the 2-5 percent range.
These effects are most seen in younger workers, he said. They are a result of working extended hours with no end in sight and the difficulties of delivering services. This has led to “cascading challenges,” Robison said.
“We are doing intentional investing now in our employees,” he said.
That includes spirit weeks and dress-up days to lighten the mood.
Also, employees are encouraged to take time off, and they are taking advantage of that, he said.
Robison characterized the county’ vaccination rates as being strong with 53 percent of the population having received at least the first dose of a vaccine. Nearly two-thirds of adults 20 and older are vaccinated, and almost 70 percent 30 and older are fully vaccinated.
Nationwide the Delta variant of the virus continues to be a concern, and one case has been reported in Lucas County.
The testing is done in coordination with the state of Ohio, he said.
Not all, or even most, of cases are tested for the variant because the level of genetic sequencing is so complex, he said. While in some rare instances, a specific sample may be pulled for testing, almost all testing is random.
If a sample from Wood County was found to be the Delta variant, the county would be notified.
Robison said national studies show that 73 percent of those who are refusing to get vaccination believe that health officials are overstating the risk of the Delta variation.
Also, some people say they won’t take it because they’re afraid of side effects in the future.
The vaccines, Robison said, have passed key milestones and have shown to be effective.
The dangers of long-term symptoms from having COVID, including heart problems and cognitive issues, are more of a concern.
The department continues to offer vaccination clinics throughout the county, including at farmers markets and in schools as well as at its offices.
