September COVID-19 cases analyzed
Logan County District Board of Health members approved at their Wednesday meeting a motion to hire another contact tracer paid through state grant funding to assist the nursing division with the busy COVID-19 call center.
Officials reported the hiring will assist nursing staff who have been pulled away from their usual job duties to staff the call center.
To reach the Logan County COVID-19 call center, call (937) 592-9040, enter 1. In addition, assistance is available by e-mail at covid19.
As of Thursday, the health district reported there are 60 active cases of the virus in the county and four current hospitalizations.A total of four deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred since the first cases were reported in March.
Also since March, a total of 376 total cases have been recorded for the county, including confirmed and probably cases. A total of 312 of those individuals have recovered.
During September, the LCHD reported a total of 73 cases of the virus, with 24 of those individuals reporting they were exposed by a friend or family member and four individuals reporting they were exposed at their workplace. The remaining 45 individuals had unknown exposure to the virus.
In addition, the age ranges reported for the 73 cases last month were as young as the 10-19 age group, with 12 cases in that category, and the oldest were in the 80 and older category with two cases. The ages 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 categories had the most cases, with 16 cases for both age groups.
Also for the September cases, 63 individuals were symptomatic and 10 were asymptomatic, health district officials said. For the symptomatic individuals, the most common symptom reported was cough, followed by headache, muscle aches, changes in smell or taste, and fever.
The health district also hosted a COVID-19 Pop-Up Test Site Sept. 10 at the Logan County Fairgrounds, with the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio National Guard providing assistance. Seventy-one individuals were tested, and only one individual — a Logan County resident — had a lab-confirmed positive case.
In environmental health matters, the health board accepted the lowest and best bid of $7,500 from Williams and Sons Excavating for a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund project through the Ohio EPA at the property of Christopher Harris, 3951 S. US Route 68, Bellefontaine. The project qualifies for a grant payment of 85 percent for the cost of a replacement system for a failed home sewage system.
Environmental Health Director Tim Smith said additional funding is available from the Ohio EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Fund to help low to moderate income homeowners repair and replace failed home sewage treatment systems. Depending on household income and the number of occupants, homeowners may qualify for 50, 85, and even 100 percent of the cost for a home sewage system repair, replacement or connection to sanitary sewer.
Program applications are available on the health district’s website, www.loganhealth.org.
In other environmental health matters, Smith noted that final notices were mailed to Liberty Township residents for the Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program Wednesday. McArthur Township will receive the next round of O&M applications, which will be mailed Oct. 26.
Personnel changes also have recently taken shape in the division, with sanitarian Alexis Zaborniak’s promotion to lab coordinator. Former environmental technician Arie Pequignot has been promoted to sanitarian-in-training.
New hire Mary Moser begins her environmental technician position Oct. 19. The new deputy registrar and environmental clerk is Sonya Eaton, who began her duties Sept. 24.
In other action, the board:
• honored employee of the month Christina Bramlage, director of business operations;
• ordered the Lakeview Marathon, 12500 SR 235 N, Lakeview, to correct the following continuing violations: toilet out of order, strong garbage odor from Dumpster, trash and a mattress outside of facility, inoperative hallway lighting and drinking fountain; tall, leaning, outdoor sign in parking lot; and weeds and tall trees in and around storage area, within 14 days or appear before the board at the next regular meeting, slated for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, for a license suspension hearing if the compliance order is not attained;
• ordered Norman Rath, 11007 Oneida Path, Lakeview, who has an A-frame structure with openings that allow for animal harborages that are creating odor complaints, to correct the violations by properly disposing of all odor-producing items and to repair and secure the structure within 14 days, otherwise condemnation orders may be issued for the ongoing issue;
• ordered Bonnie Barhorst, 285 Stephenson Street, Lakeview, to properly store 5-gallon buckets on the property and to immediately discontinue dumping foul-smelling liquids in the yard;
• ordered Lori Edwards Hynes, 1110 Township Road 179, Bellefontaine, whose property has solid wastes and more than 100 scrap tires and buckets collecting water, to remove all solid wastes to a licensed disposal facility, with tires transported at a maximum of only five at a time, and all buckets dumped out and stored so will no longer collect water, all within 14 days; and
• ordered Edward Cummins, 7640 Williams St., Lewistown, to remove wastewater in the basement by a registered septage hauler, add lime and repairing the damaged sewer line, return water service to the residence, repair the exterior of the home, and properly remove all outside debris to a licensed solid waste disposal facility within seven days.