Despite locally low count, health district nurses busy with case investigations
Logan County District Board of Health members received an overview of the efforts to investigate and trace coronavirus cases during the pandemic at their Wednesday afternoon teleconference meeting, and were informed about “strike teams” that have been formed to provide offsite testing capabilities as businesses re-open and the potential for additional cases in the community grows.
Health district officials said as of Wednesday, Logan County has 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases, plus seven probable cases. Of those 27 cases, 20 of those individuals have recovered. The county also has not had a positive case since May 8.
While fortunately the county’s total number of cases has remained low, Nursing Director Kelly Reaver said the agency has been able to increase its contact tracing ability for local cases through the work of agency staff and the assistance of volunteers, including a members of the Medical Reserve Corps.
“We are continuing to be extremely busy despite the low numbers of positive cases. As of May 6, we have reviewed more than 200 residents that have been tested,” she said.
Tracking the total number of COVID-19 tests that have been administered to Logan County residents is difficult because individuals can go out of county to get tested and then “we don’t always find out if they receive a negative result,” Reaver said.
When working with an individual 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.”
One health district nurse and two Mary Rutan Hospital nurses 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.
Relating to the “strike teams,” the health district has partnered with Mary Rutan Hospital, Community Health and Wellness Partners and Green Hills Community to appoint nursing staff members and other individuals who would be available to test small community clusters that might arise in congregate settings. It’s also a way that the community can pull together to help each other with resources and plans made ahead of time to prevent any one agency from becoming overwhelmed, Reaver said.
Environmental Health Director Tim Smith said his staff have been busy reviewing business re-opening plans and so far, representatives have examined approximately 115 plans, “with more coming in every day,” he said.
Logan County Health Commissioner Dr. Boyd Hoddinott said that the local agency is one of the few health departments in the state to develop such guidelines and safe practices for businesses during the pandemic.
Some of the measures include recommendations for employees and customers wearing face coverings, placing limits on the total number of people permitted in the store at one time, conducting regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces, providing hand sanitizer and wipes to employees and customers, and discouraging hand shaking.
“Everybody is really working hard with the plans that they’re sending us,” Dr. Hoddinott said. “We have to get the businesses up and running again; otherwise we won’t have a country anymore.
“It was good that we closed down initially so that we could learn more about this virus and so that we didn’t overwhelm our health system. Now we know about best practices for keeping our community safe and we need to move forward. It could be awhile before there is a vaccine available.”
Board member Robin Price expressed her appreciation to the health commissioner and the health district staff for their work on these reopening efforts.
“You’ve had a real common sense approach that has really suited our community and our people,” she said.
In other action, the board:
• accepted an additional $18,624 for the state’s Coronavirus Response Grant, bringing the total of the grant to $58,269, to pay for salaries, fringe benefits, overtime and supplies;
• accepted an additional $8,391.47 for the Early Childhood Safety Initiative to extend the grant through Dec. 31, and the total grant amount to $25,174.40;
• recognized employees of the month, nurses Kathleen Davis and Tracy Davis for their efforts to continue the Women, Infants and Children Program as a curbside service during the pandemic and their work in difficult weather conditions outdoors;
• ordered Robinson Rentals, LLC, 2824 W. Township Road 30, Bellefontaine, owns property at 214 Pratt Street, Bellefontaine, that has a large pile of solid waste next to an overflowing dumpster to removing all solid wastes to a licensed disposal facility within seven days;
• ordered Mary Ann Kemp, owner of 270 Bentz Ave., Lakeview, that has trash and debris in the yard, to remove all solid wastes to a licensed facility within seven days;
• ordered Steven and David Abraham of London, Ohio, owners of 260 Grove St., Lakeview, that has trash and debris and an open structure to remove all solid wastes to a licensed facility and securing the structure within seven days;
• ordered James Burden, owner of 275 Bentz Ave., Lakeview, that has trash and debris and an opening in the roof to remove all solid wastes to a licensed facility and repairing the structure within 30 days;
• ordered Roger Triplett of Zanesville, owns property at 270 Grove St., Lakeview, that has trash and debris and an open structure with broken windows and the roof falling in to correct the violation by removing all solid wastes to a licensed disposal facility and repairing the structure within 30) days;
• approved a mileage rate reimbursement decrease for employees to 45 cents per mile (from the previous 50 cents per mile), per state requirements;
• accepted the notice of award for the $71,812 Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant for fiscal year 2021 that begins July 1; and
• appointed Christina Bramlage, director of business operations, to serve as the FEMA Assistance Authorized Agent.
The next meeting is 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 10.