By 1812Blockhouse
RIchland Public Health has released its overview of the COVID-19 pandemic’s local, state, national, and global impact impact. This informational synopsis is provided on select days each month.
The next update will be forthcoming on Friday, October 22.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
From record highs, Richland County schools are now experiencing a rather sharp decline in reported infections of COVID-19 for children and staff.
When the Ohio Department of Health shared updated numbers on Thursday, Richland County districts and individual buildings reported a total of 125 infections in the last week in fourteen school settings. Two weeks ago, that number stood at over twice that amount. Then there were 15 districts or buildings, led by a reported 118 cases in Mansfield City Schools.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland County Schools
By 1812Blockhouse
The latest numbers for reported cases of COVID among Richland County schools were shared by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday.
Those figures show a sizable decrease in case levels for both students and staff. In a similar fashion, the number of cases reported in the county’s long-term care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living centers) remained low.
As shared on Thursday, there were 173 positive COVID test results reported on September 30, as compared to 267 reported the previous week, and 279 earlier in the month. This overall figure included 149 students and 24 staff members in 16 districts or buildings — one more than the previous week.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland County Schools
By 1812Blockhouse
Using almost any measure, the communities in Richland County are in a very difficult place.
Whether you refer to the current rate of COVID-19 infection as a second or a third “wave,” it is certain that the situation has worsened substantially in the last 14 days.
Reported numbers bear this out.
Take, for instance, the number of school students and staff with positive tests over the last week, and compare that number to other locations in Ohio. As we reported on Thursday, Richland County had a total of 267 cases in local schools. Compare this to the number in Delaware County reported by our sister site, 1808Delaware. There, despite a steep rise, the number stood at 130.
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Special to 1812Blockhouse
To assist students with financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ohio State University is distributing another $46 million in federal assistance for students.
The university notified more than 25,000 students this week that they are receiving block grants as part of the third round of emergency grants supported with federal relief funds. Eligible undergraduate, graduate and professional students who enrolled in summer or autumn semester 2021 will receive grants of $250 to $3,000, depending on their level of financial need. Students on all Ohio State campuses are eligible.
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By 1812Blockhouse
As the 2021-2022 school year progresses, it is clear that the precipitous rise in COVID infections in non-school settings is also taking place in Richland County’s educational facilities.
Numbers released by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday show that the number of reported infections in the county’s school districts and buildings almost doubled in the last seven days. Last week’s numbered was more than twice that of the week before.
Last Thursday, in the second set of full results after the launch of school, there were a total of 141 reported cases during the previous week. These included 112 new student infections and 29 staff. These were found in 12 different school districts and buildings.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland County Schools
By 1812Blockhouse
In a Tuesday letter to the Madison School Community, Superintendent Rob Peterson shared news that the increase in COVID infections in the district, as well as the number of absences caused by other illness, has necessitated immediate action.
For that reason, Madison High School and Middle School will be moving to remote learning beginning on Thursday, September 9, and lasting until Wednesday, September 15, after which in-person learning will resume.
This will not necessarily impact athletic and other school events, however each will be subject to change on an individual basis.
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By 1812Blockhouse
The rapid rise in COVID cases seen in the general population is now clearly reflected in infection rates for Richland County school districts and buildings, where total infections tripled in one week.
Last Thursday, in the first set of full results after the launch of school, there were a total of 43 reported cases during the previous week. These included 34 new student infections and 9 staff. These were found in seven different school districts and buildings.
This Thursday, September 2, that number of affected districts and buildings had grown to 12, and the total number of new infections stood at 141. This amount represents 112 students and 29 staff members.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland County Schools, Shelby City Schools
By 1812Blockhouse
In an announcement made on Tuesday afternoon, officials of Lexington Schools announced that the district will be shutting down in-person learning for two weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 7.
The announcement read as follows:
Lexington School Community,
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By 1812Blockhouse
With the first full week of school finished for many Richland County schools, this Thursday was the first real opportunity to assess the level of COVID impacting local students and teachers.
As it turns out, there were new reported cases from seven public or private school districts/facilities.
All in all, 34 new student cases were reported as well as 9 instances of positive COVID results for staff — for a total of 43.
More…Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland County Schools
By 1812Blockhouse
In a social media announcement on Tuesday afternoon, the City of Mansfield announced that it is again closing its Utility Collections office to the public.
The announcement shared:
“Because of issues involving the current state of the pandemic, the City has closed its Utility Collections office to access by the public/customers via the lobby and the drive-up window at least through the end of this week.
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By 1812Blockhouse
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise in recent days, both statewide and in Richland County.
In Ohio, over 3,000 daily cases have been reported three times in the last week, with the largest numbers recorded since February. Hospitalizations and ICU admissions have more than doubled since the beginning of the month. The 21 day trend rose from 1,183 on July 30 to 3,446 on Thursday.
Government and public health officials are taking notice. Earlier this week, Richland Public Health issued the following notice concerning the wearing of masks at its facility:
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By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal
In May 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced $775 million in state spending cuts in the face of what he expected to be lower tax revenues due to economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The cuts included $300 million whacked from K-12 education and $210 million from Medicaid, the health program for the poor. DeWine decided to make them instead of dipping into the state’s $2.7 billion rainy day fund.
In hindsight, the move is receiving scant support from a panel of Ohio economists.
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By Nolan Simmons, Ohio Capital Journal
Thursday’s Lounge in Akron received a $25,000 fine in lieu of a liquor license revocation for violating health orders. Aftermath in Columbus got hit with a $20,000 fine in lieu of license revocation.
The Electric Co. in Mansfield received a $10,000 fine in lieu of a 21-day liquor license suspension, and Sky Mediterranian in Parma Heights also received a $10,000 fine in lieu of a license revocation. These were the largest individual fines for Ohio businesses violating pandemic health orders.
Mario Nemr, owner of the now-closed Thursday’s Lounge, told Cleveland.com that the COVID-19 pandemic had been the “nail in the coffin” for the historic Akron bar.
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By 1812Blockhouse, Avita Health System
With a doubling in reported cases of COVID-19 in the last week here in Richland County, health care providers are taking notice.
While there has not been a corresponding doubling of hospitalizations or deaths related to the pandemic, there is a heightened awareness of the virus and a renewed effort toward reasonable precautions and vaccination.
Avita Health System has released a temporary set of COVID guidelines as a result related to patient visitation, cafeteria and gift shop access, etc.. Those new guidelines include:
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