Richland County Remains Red in Alert System
Richland County remained at Risk Level 3/Red for the seventh 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 for the fourth straight week. Richland County had 355.75 cases per 100,000 population with 431 new cases over the past two weeks. In addition, Richland County met the indicators for New Cases, Non-Congregate Cases, Outpatients Visits, and Emergency Department Visits. 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 68 of Ohio’s 88 counties this week with the Level 3/Red designation. 86% of Ohioans are living in these red counties. 19 of Ohio counties are at Level 2/Orange and one (1) county at Level 1/Yellow. However, every county in Ohio is at a high incident level indicating an increasing spread of COVID-19.
Richland County residents should follow the recommended guidelines for Risk Level 3to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a face covering (cloth mask) when out in the public.
- Must wear a face covering (cloth mask) when entering a retail business or grocery
- Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members.
- Follow good hygiene standards, including:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Cover coughs or sneezes (e.g., into a tissue, or elbow).
- Symptom self-evaluation monitoring.
- Decrease in-person interactions with others.
- Limit attending gatherings of any number.
- Conduct a daily health/symptom self-evaluation and stay at home if symptomatic.
- Seek medical care as needed, but limit or avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities to see others as much as possible.
Additional Guidelines:
1.Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID19. Get tested if you develop symptoms.
·If you have been in contact with someone that has recently tested positive for COVID19 or someone with COVID19 symptoms, stay home 14 days after your last contact with that person and monitor yourself for symptoms.
·If you are tested for COVID-19 during the quarantine period and test negative, you need to remain in quarantine for the full 14 day period in case symptoms develop.
·If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, remain in isolation for 10 days after symptoms start and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
2.There is an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 among older adults and those who:
·Have a chronic illness such as asthma or diabetes
·Are obese or overweight
·Smoke or have a history of smoking
Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high-risk to protect them.
Stores should consider offering hours available for seniors only shopping to reduce exposure risk
3.Get your annual flu shot (call 419-774-4700 to make an appointment)
4.Limit in-person interactions with others. Consider alternative events for Halloween celebrations, avoid close contact with those outside of your household
5.Limit attending gatherings of any number. Consider postponing gatherings like wedding receptions or parties with extended groups of family and friends. This will help to prevent transmission of the virus during the holidays.
6.For schools that are providing hybrid or full in-person education and/or holding extracurricular activities or sporting events, paying special attention to safety precautions is essential.
Students should not gather in groups outside the schools setting and school activities.
7.Consider working remotely where options are available.
For more information about the Ohio Public Health Advisory System, visithttp://coronavirus.ohio.gov.
For more information about the coronavirus situation in Richland County visithttps://www.richlandhealth.org/and follow the coronavirus links in the sliders.
If you have questions, call the Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Call Line 1-833-427-5634. The call line is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day, including weekends.