With the coronavirus (COVID-19) making its way through the US, its most likely we will begin to get cases here in Ohio over the next couple of weeks.
As more testing starts happening in Ohio, we encourage you to stay informed on COVID-19 on a local level. The government is now shipping out test kits across the nation, so be prepared for a lot more diagnoses being found in the US over the coming weeks. The number of cases will likely skyrocket — this does not mean COVID-19 has jumped out of control, it just means we now have a more realistic look at what we are dealing with in the US.
For latest news, make sure you are checking reliable sources. The following websites have the latest information on what is going on in our area, prevention you should be taking, and how to prepare now if there is an outbreak.
Ross County Health District:
http://rosscountyhealth.org/
Ross County Health District has local numbers, and is posting weekly reports of influenza/COVID-19 in the county.
Ohio Department of Health: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/
Center of Disease Control:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
The most important thing to remember is that taking it seriously on preparedness and prevention not only keeps you healthy, it keeps others around you safe, who could potentially be at a higher risk of illness.
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, MPH, over the weekend announced the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has opened a call center to answer questions regarding coronavirus (COVID-19). The call center will be open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).