An Ohio Department of Health grant is helping to provide the Logan County Health District with additional staff members to trace coronavirus contacts for local cases, officials reported during the Wednesday afternoon board of health meeting conducted via teleconference.
Last month, the board accepted a $48,760 ODH Bureau of Infectious Diseases grant issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security grant. Wednesday, the board approved the employment of a contact tracing coordinator, Stephanie Mosley, who also has been volunteering with this effort recently, along with contact tracers Laura Monaghan and Kim Hassel, all effective June 23, pending the completion of a background check and other requirements.
Nursing Director Kelly Reaver said despite the locally low COVID-19 numbers, the agency’s public health nurses remain quite busy conducting the infectious disease investigations for each case, and the new contact tracers will be a huge asset to the department.
Wednesday, a total of 59 cases of coronavirus were reported for Logan County, which includes 31 confirmed cases, along with 16 probable cases and 12 positive antibody tests.
Of the total 59 cases, 43 individuals have recovered, so there are a total of 16 active cases, LCHD officials said.
Case investigation and contact tracing have been conducted for 50 individuals in the past week, for a total of 498 individuals since March 17.
Reaver previously explained that when working with a person who has been tested for the virus, that individual is immediately asked to isolate themselves while waiting on results and agency representatives determine who the patient has been in contact with during the last 48 hours.
“We usually have called the contacts within hours of receiving results,” the nursing director said. “Then we ask those contacts to quarantine as well. Those measures prevent any further spread. It runs very smoothly.”
Health district nurses and a Mary Rutan Hospital nurse also staff a local COVID-19 call center, where individuals and doctor’s offices can call to ask questions regarding testing and local resources.
The number is (937) 592-9040, option 1, and the call center is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals who have coronavirus symptoms are asked to first call their primary care provider.
Considering the busyness and stressful nature of the past three months dealing with the pandemic, Logan County Health Commissioner Dr. Boyd Hoddinott expressed his gratitude to his staff in all divisions.
“From our nursing division to environmental health, WIC, clerical and all of our employees, I appreciate what everyone’s done beyond their normal job descriptions. They have all done a terrific job in managing this difficult time.
“We had a new hire recently express how impressed they were with the culture here at the office as well.”
Members also recognized the agency’s employee of the month Bailey McGill, vital statistics registrar/environmental health clerk. She was applauded for her cheerful attitude to customers and co-workers, along with tripling the amount of web traffic to the agency’s Facebook page through her social media updates on behalf of the health district.
During the environmental health report, the board approved a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund project bid of $10,500 by Bob Cat Multi-Works for a project at the property of Matthew and Richelle Shoe, 4483 County Road 63, Quincy.
The project qualifies for a grant payment of 85 percent from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund through the Ohio EPA of the cost for a replacement system for a failed home sewage system.
Additional funding is available to area property owners with a failed sewage system through the Ohio EPA grant received by the health district. Depending on household income and the number of occupants, homeowners with failed sewage systems may qualify for 50, 85, and even 100 percent of the cost for a home sewage system repair, replacement or connection to sanitary sewer. Application information is available at www.loganhealth.org.
In addition, the mailing of applications for the Sewage Operation and Maintenance Program will resume by June 17, beginning with Liberty Township, now that businesses have reopened that were previously closed during the pandemic shutdown of the state, Environmental Health Director Tim Smith said.
Health districts in Ohio are required to conduct sewage Operation and Maintenance Programs to monitor the operating conditions of all private sewage systems within their jurisdictions. The LCHD is in the process of implementing this program in Logan County, starting with a two-year assessment period, and are issuing one-year, five-year, or 10-year operation permits, depending on various factors.
In other action, the board:
• accepted a $25,724 Get Vaccinated Ohio Grant and Contract, in conjunction with the Shelby County Health District;
• approved the renewal of an epidemiology contract with the Delaware General Health District, beginning July 1, in the amount of $60 per hour with a maximum of 10 hours per month;
• approved a $9,500 contract with the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties for the newborn baby visit program;
• heard an update regarding the grant program through Governor Mike DeWine’s Office of Children Initiatives’ Early Childhood Safety Initiative that has been extended through Dec. 20; parents of children ages birth to age 3 who meet income eligibility guidelines encouraged to apply; upon the successful completion, families receive up to $200 worth of approved safety items, such as pack and plays, cribs, crib mattresses, high chairs, strollers, baby gates and baby monitors; call 651-6186 for more information; and
• heard an update regarding the Narcan training program, with 209 people trained this year and 212 Narcan kits distributed; trainings are still currently available online with orders arriving in the mail after training is completed; to sign up, contact Kelli Parr, (937) 651-6204.
The next meeting is 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, with the location to be determined.