3rd COVID death reported in Logan County
Logan County District Board of Health members and staff voiced strong support for the work and diligent efforts of Logan County Health Commissioner Dr. Boyd Hoddinott to protect the health of the community, both during the current pandemic and in prior times, Wednesday afternoon during a hearing regarding his re-hire after his Sept. 30 retirement resignation date.
The board approved a motion for Dr. Hoddinott to be rehired to continue working in his health commissioner position, effective Oct. 1, on his current part-time, one-year contract. Earlier this year, the board set his salary at $47,500 per year.
The move will enable the health commissioner to be able to utilize retirement benefits, which members noted was well-deserved for the many hours that he currently works on a daily basis to manage COVID-19 matters and other business, while officially only being paid on a part-time basis.
Former health board member David Watkins called into the meeting via teleconference to encourage the board to approve Dr. Hoddinott’s retire-rehire move.
“He is a skilled and a dedicated health commissioner who keeps the community informed and updated to keep us as safe as possible,” he said. “He also was instrumental in helping businesses be able to get back to work with safety precautions put in place during the pandemic.”
Former nursing director Cindy Irick also wrote a letter to the board expressing her support of Dr. Hoddinott as well, noting that he helped the agency move into the 21st century by successfully attaining the status of an accredited health department, a process that was several years in the making.
Relating to the pandemic, Nursing Director Kelly Reaver reported that the third COVID-19 death in the Logan County occurred during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Officials stated that the individual was 58 years old, and no other identifying information was available.
“The Logan County Health District extends our heartfelt sympathy to the family in their time of loss,” Dr. Hoddinott said. “Our agency is deeply saddened at the loss of another Logan County resident due to complications of COVID-19. The family and friends of the individual are in our prayers.
“COVID-19 can be a very bad disease, and this reminds us all to protect each other by staying home from work and school when sick, wearing masks in public places and maintaining a social distance of at least 6 feet.”
The health district also reports that as of Tuesday, there were four hospitalizations of county residents related to the virus.
Since the first positive cases in March, there have been a total of 263 cases in Logan County, including 51 current active cases and 209 individuals who have recovered.
This morning, the health district is helping to staff a free Pop-Up COVID-19 community testing event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Logan County Fairgrounds, 301 E.Lake Ave., Bellefontaine.
The testing is offered through the health district’s partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio National Guard.
Participants are asked to enter the fairgrounds from Main Street/U.S. Route 68 only. Individuals must wear a face mask and are asked to stay in their vehicles at all times.
No doctor’s order is needed for this free testing, and children 1 year of age and older can be tested.
While anyone is able to be tested, health district officials encourages those who are experiencing symptoms to be tested.
Test results for this event are expected in approximately 48 to 72 hours. Logan County Health District staff or designated representatives will call all individuals with positive test results as soon as the results are received from the lab.
Negative test results will be communicated by accessing the Lab Corps Patient Portal, with instructions will be given at the time of testing.
Individuals must take their state I.D./driver’s license and insurance/medical card (if available). Appointments will not be scheduled and testing is limited to the first 300 participants. Tests will not be administered earlier than 9 a.m.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
In other action, the board:
• recognized public health nurse Kelli Parr as the employee of the month, for her efforts to manage nursing department grants and the COVID call center, “she shines in the midst of change,” Deputy Health Commissioner Donna Peachey said;
• approved the hiring of new employees: Sandy Beck and Michael Graham, contract tracers; and Sara Weeks, outreach coordinator;
• accepted the resignation of Lisa Engle, lab supervisor, effective Sept. 19, along with the end of employment for contract tracer Stephanie Moxley;
• approved Columbus Day, Oct. 12, as a paid holiday for staff;
• accepted the lowest and best bid of $11,450 from Bobcat Multi-Works for a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund project grant from the Ohio EPA for the replacement of a home sewage system at the residence of Richard Marker, 2666 N. Township Road 31, Bellefontaine; and a $12,445 bid from Bobcat Multi-Works to be paid through the grant from the same program for the replacement of a home sewage system at the residence of Bivian Trevino, 157 Township Road 199, Bellefontaine; and
• approved a Women, Infants and Children nutrition coordinator contract with Wendy Miller, continuing at the rate of $40 per hour as services are needed.
The next meeting of the health board is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14.