There remain no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Lake County as of 3:50 p.m. on March 16, 2020, however, confirmed cases continue to increase in the surrounding counties and 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:
- At the close of business March 16, 2020, fitness centers, gyms, bowling alleys, public recreation centers, movie theaters, indoor water parks, and trampoline parks will close under further notice.
- A lawsuit will be filed in Franklin County in an effort to cancel in-person voting on March 17, 2020. Absentee voting will continue, with in-person voting taking place on June 2, 2020.
- Ohio will amend its order on public gatherings to conform to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. The order will be modified to prohibit gatherings of over 50 people.
- Those 65 years of age and older and immunocompromised individuals should not leave their homes unless it is absolutely necessary. People should refrain from any non-essential activities.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on our website. While every effort is made to keep our website current, COVID-19 is a rapidly changing public health emergency, and information is subject to change daily. Information can be verified by visiting 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).
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. Testing is available via healthcare providers only, and may be limited to those exhibiting severe illness. Lake County General Health District does not provide COVID-19 testingCOVID-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). The most current Situation Report was issued on March 16, 2020.
