For out-of-work employees, struggling local business owners and municipal leaders facing drastic revenue shortfalls, retailers and restaurants can’t open back up for business fast enough.
State unemployment crept up to above 5 percent in March, according to information released Thursday from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Since the stay-at-home order went into place, the state of Ohio has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of applications for Medicaid assistance; 8,000 new applications for for cash assistance; and 50,000 new applications for food stamp benefits, the Logan County Jobs and Family Services office reports.
County-by-county unemployment breakdowns have not yet been made available for March, but local JFS staff have reported substantial increases in the number of individuals seeking public assistance, and guidance navigating the system.
In February, the Logan County unemployment rate registered at 4.2 percent, with some 22,200 employed persons, according to ODJFS statistics.
Statewide jobless claims have risen drastically in the last four weeks, statistics show, as a total of 855,197 initial jobless claims have been filed in the last four weeks.
“To put that in perspective, the total for the last four weeks of claims is 139,685 more than the combined total of 715,512 over the last two years,” according to information published Thursday from Ohio Jobs and Family Services.
More than $227 million in unemployment compensation has been paid out to 271,000 individuals over that same time, ODJFS reports.
City of Bellefontaine government officials have projected upwards of a $1 million revenue shortfall as a result of lost income tax receipts. Department heads have been tasked with revisiting their budgets to identify potential cost-saving measures, and opportunities to save money.
No city employees have had to be furloughed, but personnel is being shared between departments to improve efficiency.
Local and state public health officials are attempting to balance safety considerations surrounding COVID-19, with the public health and safety implications of widespread unemployment and retailers potentially going out of business.
Logan County Health Commissioner Boyd Hoddinott cautioned Friday of other public health concerns that arise as unintended consequences to prolonged stay-at-home orders and high unemployment.
Drug and alcohol abuse, incidents of domestic violence, depression and related mental health concerns are all exacerbated by widespread unemployment and extended isolation, he said.
In Logan County, there have been 11 confirmed cases of coronavirus, two “presumptive” cases and three individuals that have recovered from the virus.
Mary Rutan Hospital officials reported Friday that the number of patients presenting with COVID-19 symptoms remains stable, and the hospital has not experienced an influx of COVID-19 patients. At no point has occupancy in the hospital’s intensive care unit exceeded 50 percent.
Earlier this month, in preparation for a potential surge in patients, the hospital doubled its capacity to handle any such spike, but there has not yet been a need to utilize the expanded space.
“We, as many others, plan to follow all guidelines for reopening and look forward to our community safely opening back up,” Laura Miller, MRH vice president of marketing and communications concluded Friday in an email.