There remains no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Lake County as of 3:30 p.m. on March 13, 2020, however, confirmed cases continue to increase in the state of Ohio. During today’s press conference, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton mandated several new actions, and made additional recommendations in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The following updates were made:
- No outside visitors are permitted in community jails and community corrections facilities. Protocols are to be put in places to screen vendors, contractors, etc. for illness. Juvenile court shall adopt similar protocols.
- There are no exceptions to the K-12 school closure mandate. A clarification was made that learning should continue during the three week closure period, and schools shall determine their own best plan to continue education.
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Ohio’s waiver requests to continue school breakfast and lunch programs. Schools are now able to provide “grab and go” meals for students.
- Daycare facilities are NOT being closed at this time, however parents and guardians should begin to consider alternative childcare arrangements if closures become necessary. It is recommended that parents remove their children from daycare facilities if they are able. While children, unless they have a preexisting condition, will most likely recover from illness, they are still considered potential carriers. Alternative arrangements should also be considered if a child’s primary caretaker is over the age of 60, as this population is at significantly higher risk for serious illness.
The best prevention against COVID-19 and other infectious disease remains to:
- Wash your hands often
- Stay home when you’re not feeling well, or have a cough, fever, or other illness
- Cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching your face
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces often
- Practice social distancing. Maintain a six-foot radius between yourself and others.If you are feeling ill, and have signs of fever or respiratory illness, please contact your healthcare provider first before going to any healthcare facility. Please also consider using telemedicine options that may be available to you.
Ohio Department of Health’s call center to answer general questions about COVID-19 can be reached at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634), and is open from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Lake County General Health District will begin issuing bi-weekly Situation Reports that will also be available on the Lake County General Health District website (www.lcghd.org). For more information on COVID-19, visit the websites of Lake County General Health District, Ohio Department of Public Health (www.coronavirus.ohio.gov), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), and the World Health Organization (www.who.int).
