National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is a yearly observance highlighting the importance of protecting children two years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).This is that week.
Current Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some infants and children to miss or delay routinely recommended vaccinations.
A CDC report (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) released in May 2020 found a troubling drop in routine childhood vaccinations as a result of families staying at home. While families followed public health warnings about going out, an unfortunate result was many missed recommended vaccinations. More…
COVID-19 variants (mutations of COVID-19) have been detected in Mansfield in four COVID-19 positive tests, according to information provided to Richland Public Health from the Ohio Department of Health. Three of the four positive COVID-19 variant cases were from inmates at the Mansfield Correctional Institute.
The variant detected in Richland County is known as B.1.429 and was first detected in California. This coronavirus mutation is known to have a 20% higher transmissibility rate than the original strain.
The four cases detected in Richland County were ages 18, 24, 28, and 64. All four cases were detected by COVID-19 testing conducted between February 15 and February 22. All four cases have recovered. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The following statistics reflect the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Richland County as of March 15. The most recent data in each area (overall, vaccinations, long-term care, schools/school districts) are presented here.
Overall Numbers (as of March 12): More…
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
You’ve undoubtedly read about or heard news that the rates of COVID-19 infections have been going down nationally and across Ohio.
To see where things lie in that regard, we’re taking another snapshot using figures from Richland Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, comparing numbers released on Monday with those shared three weeks earlier, on February 1.
According to the latest figures today from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 821,016 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, to date — 977 more than reported Sunday, including 84 new cases in the Mahoning Valley.
Of the state’s total cases, about 48,545 are presumed to be active infections.
The weekly volume of virus testing statewide has steadily decreased since late November. The average percent of positive tests continues a downward trend that began in early January.
So far this month, agencies statewide have administered an average 9,004 fewer tests per day than in January.
As a result of a data error at ODH, up to 4,000 COVID-19 deaths were not counted since October. The department has been adding the deaths to the state toll since last week.
Richland Public Health shared the following statistics on Monday (number in parenthesis is the same figure from February 1).
Last Friday, we reported on a dramatic decrease in infection among Richland County school students and staff. That post can be read here.
Reposted in part with permission from MahoningMatters.com – original post can be read here. Local information added from Richland Public Health; Image by Jeyaratnam Caniceus from Pixabay
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
As the dates near for Richland County teachers to begin receiving vaccinations for COVID-19, the number of reported staff and student cases has been increasing again.
Two weeks ago, the weekly Thursday report showed a total of 60 new reported infections in county schools and districts. Last week, we shared the news that that number had dropped to 24 — 17 students and 7 staff members.
This Thursday, the number of reported cases rose to 70. The following schools/districts shared new infections: More…
Coronavirus, Public Health, Richland County Schools, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
A sad milestone was reached on Monday. Ohio has now recorded 10,000 deaths related to the coronavirus.
According to the latest figures on Monday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 783,158 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, to date — 2,176 more than reported Sunday. That is much lower than the 3,215 cases reported between Sunday and Monday of last week.
The weekly volume of virus testing statewide continues a slump that began in late November. The average percent of positive tests, however, also continues to trend downward and has reached its lowest point since early November. More…
By: Mahoning Matters Staff; 1812Blockhouse
According to the latest figures on Monday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 760,837 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, to date — 3,215 more than reported Sunday,The weekly volume of virus testing statewide continues a slump that began in late November. The average percent of positive tests, however, also continues to trend downward and has reached its lowest point since early November.
So far this month, agencies statewide have administered an average 10,287 fewer tests per day than in December. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The end of the Christmas and New Year’s holiday COVID-19 infection watch is within sight, and local numbers reported Monday by Richland Public Health do show a continued rise in cases.
The statistics are sobering and key numbers have reached record levels, with infection totals increasing by over 75& in the last month. On December 7, the total number of confirmed and probable cases stood at 4,627; it is now at 8,386.
Assuming that each person would become infected only once, the number of cumulative cases would now represent approximately 6.7% of county residents. More…
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
Richland Public Health has been awarded a $10,000 grant to participate in the Increasing Disability Inclusion in the Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Process project.
The grant award was from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the country’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments, with support from the National Center for Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD). Richland Public Health and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan were the two recipients of the grant. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
As this week begins, health experts are looking closely at COVID-19 case numbers to determine the impact of the Thanksgiving holiday on the spread of the virus.
In that light, on Monday Richland Public Health included the following categories and numbers in its start-of-week report. The statistics are sobering and key numbers have reached record levels.
The number of cumulative cases now represents approximately 3.7% of all county residents. More…
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
On Monday, Richland Public Health included the following categories and numbers in its start-of-week report. One sobering statistic was the total number of positive cases on a cumulative basis, which topped 3,000. Across Ohio, deaths reached 6,000.
The number of cases county-wide represents approximately 2.5% of residents. More…
By 1812Blockhouse, Richland Public Health
Richland Public Health has announced that it will reopen its building, located at 555 Lexington Avenue in Mansfield, to the public on Monday, November 9. This is almost a year to the date of the groundbreaking for building renovations that were held up due to COVID-19.
Richland Public Health was closed to the public on March 19 because of coronavirus pandemic although staff continued to work under several modified plans.
When the building closed, construction on the front entrance and West Wing of Richland Public Health, which began in November 2019, also ceased. When coronavirus restrictions were lifted, construction resumed. More…
Coronavirus, Ohio Department of Health, Richland Public Health
As numbers and levels were announced on Thursday afternoon, Richland County remained at Risk Level 3/Red for the fifth straight week in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System (OPHAS) for COVID-19.
This week’s Level 3/Red rating also remains with a High Incident label. Richland County had 195.62 cases per 100,000 population with 237 new cases over the past two weeks. Richland County will remain at the Red indicator of very high exposure and spread of COVID-19 until the Cases per Capita drops below 100. Richland County residents are encouraged to limit activities as much as possible and to follow all current health orders.
Richland County is one of 43 of Ohio’s 88 counties this week with the Level 3/Red designation. Only two (2) of those counties do not have a high incident indicator of COVID-19 spread. 43 of Ohio counties are at Level 2/Orange and only two (2) are at Level 1/Yellow. 78% of Ohioans are living in a Red-designated county. More…
Governor DeWine provided an update this week on the Ohio Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network which tests wastewater for gene fragments of COVID-19.
Those infected with COVID-19 begin to shed the virus early in their infection, and a significant, sustained increase in gene fragments found in wastewater can be an early warning sign of a pending rise in COVID-19 cases in a specific area. The value of this information is that gives communities an opportunity to act proactively to prevent outbreaks.
Since the launch of the monitoring program, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has notified health authorities in six communities of a sustained increase in gene fragments found in their wastewater: Dayton, Columbus, Akron, Oregon, Sandusky, and Mansfield. More…
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
Numbers released Friday by Richland Public Health suggest that Richland County is joining other locations which have seen increases in the number of COVID-19 cases over the last month.
The following categories and numbers were reported. The number in parenthesis is that reported at the end of August. More…
