COVID-19 Update: The state issued a new order today limiting visitors at nursing homes to 1 visitor/patient. Everyone who enters a nursing home will have to have their temperature taken. The state also confirmed a 4th confirmed COVID-19 case, taking us to a new phase of the pandemic.
More information from today's press conference with Governor DeWine and ODH's Director, Dr. Amy Acton:
COVID-19 Update:
• The state will sign an order in the next 24 to 36 hours regarding mass gatherings in Ohio. Experts say the bigger the gathering, the bigger the risk of spreading the disease. At minimum, the order will include no spectators at indoor events and will affect March Madness games in Ohio. When asked about the size of the gathering, the state said it would release more information on this later.
• State order issued today: Limit nursing home visitation to 1 visitor per day. Nursing homes must set up a log and sign in for visitors. There must also be a log of anyone who enters the nursing home – staff, vendors, etc. – and all those entering must have temperature checked and asked screening questions.
• The next step with nursing homes would be to ban all visitors, though the state is not ordering this as of yet.
• Community Spread: There is a 4th confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ohio. This is the first case of community spread – the next phase of this pandemic. This case is of a male in his mid-50’s. He is hospitalized in Stark County.
• Once there are 2 confirmed cases of community spread, it is safe to assume that 1% of the population will have COVID-19. It’s safe to assume there is community spread across Ohio. Up to 40% of the population could contract COVID-19.
• What are we seeing happen is predictable per expert consultations.
• The government has the ability to control risks, and the government’s job is to do what it can to protect the people. Each one of us is having to change what we do to live.
• Dr. Acton showed a chart and the state’s goal to stay under a certain threshold in order to not overburden Ohio’s healthcare system.
• There was a change this week that allows for 2 specimens per COVID-19 test.
• The state is doing sentinel testing to find hot spots and clusters.
• There is no announcement at this time of closing K-12 programs. If that is required, the state will work with schools to alter requirements.
• The state is not ordering travel bans, but is asking people to use their own judgement on travel based on CDC recommendations.
• Some of the COVID-19 tests are being paid for by insurance. The ODH lab does not charge for the tests.
• The NIH is saying the vaccine could go to trials in 3 months. It could be a year, year and a half until the vaccine is in full production.
• Ohio is in the queue for more test kits.
• Not everyone hospital has the capacity to deal with COVID-19 cases. The larger hospitals will serve as regional hubs.
• When asked about people with no sick leave, the state said it was something that needed to be looked at.
• The state said that as this progresses, it will be likely we will need additional legislation.
• The message to Ohioans: There is a new, big risk in your life. And we need to start calculating that risk.
• Multiple hospitals are doing testing. Those tests are going to the ODH lab.
• Many hospitals are setting up screening tools, like call centers, to screen people by phone and to avoid people coming to the hospital if hospitalization isn’t required.
• Hospitals get a daily report of the PPE available at the facility.
