By 1812Blockhouse
Information released today by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) painted a more colorful — and more sinister — picture of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio.
This holds true for Richland County as well.
Today’s update shows the impact of sizable and ongoing increases in cases and resulting impact on the state’s health care systems. Several Ohio counties are beginning to move into heretofore uncharted waters in terms of statistics.
Case in point — As shared by ODH, Montgomery, Lake and Lorain counties have moved to the highest risk level (purple or level 4) of the state advisory system. Franklin County remains at the highest risk level for the second week and 11 counties have moved to the watch list in the system.
Montgomery, Lake and Lorain are moving to purple in the alert system because they are experiencing sustained increases in outpatient, emergency, and hospital visits by COVID-19 patients.
Franklin County continues at purple for a second week.
The 11 counties moving to the watch list are: Adams, Clermont, Hamilton, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Warren, and Wood Counties. These counties meet enough indicators to be considered at risk level 4 or purple, because of the sustained impact on healthcare utilization. However, the system requires them to meet these criteria for two weeks in a row to ensure a consistent trend in the data before they become purple.
“The ongoing high prevalence of the virus throughout Ohio, as reflected in today’s alert system update, is very dangerous as we move into the holidays,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “We have heard again this week from hospital administrators and front-line staff about how they are overwhelmed. It is imperative that Ohioans take the virus and this current situation seriously.”
Indicators triggered by Richland County statistics this week include new cases per capita, new cases increases, non-congregate spread, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and bed occupancy.
The State of Ohio has issued a new Level 4/Purple Fact Sheet, which can be accessed here.
Soure: Ohio Department of Health
