By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
In this part of the world, news about the Coronavirus arrived in increments over the space of just a few weeks. A general awareness of the virus preceded the realization of how widespread and society-changing its arrival would be.
In one sense, we have been dealing with a day-to-day awareness of the Coronavirus for about two months now. A review of 1812Blockhouse posts shows that the first time the virus was mentioned was in late February with a piece focusing on Richland Public Health’s advice on how to prepare.
On March 19, Richland Public Health reported the first confirmed case of the virus in Richland County, less than two months after the country’s first reported case in Washington State.
So let’s take a moment and assess where things stand two months in.
The Numbers.
As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21, there are 66 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Richland County. Those are cumulative, meaning that the actual present number would be less, as represented by the fact that 22 individuals among those 66 have already recovered. 19 of those 66 have been or are hospitalized. There has been one death reported attributable to the virus.
In Ohio, there are 13,725 cumulative cases, with 2,779 hospitalizations and 838 admissions to ICUs statewide. 557 Ohioans have died from the virus.
Where to Get Information.
The official go-to sites for information on the Coronavirus, including those of the CDC, the State of Ohio Department of Health, and Richland Public Health, can be easily found and accessed via our Richland Coronavirus Information Page.
That same Page has regularly updated links to updates from local governments, schools, businesses, and organizations.
Where to Get Help.
There are numerous resources for different types of assistance — from medical to personal to financial.
Three great numbers to use for local medical and personal resources are the following:
- Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus/COVID-19 Hotline: 1-833-4ASKODH (1-833-427-5834)
- Mental Health Assistance line provided by Family Life Counseling for individuals in Richland County who feel anxious or stressed — operated seven days a week from 8 AM until 11 PM: 1- 567-833-8455
- Catalyst 24 Hour Crisis Help Line is a 24 hour service to address any mental health or substance about concerns: 419.522-HELP
Other resources, including business information and ideas to manage your household and support local businesses can be found on the Richland Coronavirus Information Page.
Looking ahead.
Recent press conferences from Governor DeWine and ODH Medical Director Dr. Amy Acton have included discussions about “what happens next” in terms of resuming personal and business activity. Many of those remarks are included in regular tweets from the Ohio Department of Health, and a timeline of those posts can be viewed below.
Source: Richland Public Health; Image by Orna Wachman from Pixabay
