COLUMBUS – Nationwide Children’s Hospital has confirmed that a worker in its childcare center tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Ohio Department of Health call center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19 at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
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According to a statement from the hospital, the childcare center was closed until further notice.
Late in the evening on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Nationwide Children’s Hospital learned an employee who works in the hospital’s child care center tested positive for COVID-19. The employee recently worked for two days while largely asymptomatic and called in ill Wednesday morning upon experiencing symptoms. She was immediately tested on Wednesday using Nationwide Children’s on-site testing center and lab. -statement from Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The woman worked with two other staff members to care for 11 children for two days before being tested, according to the statement.
The staff and families of the children have been notified and were requested to isolate at home for 14 days, hospital officials said.
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“Although no other children are believed to have had contact with this employee, approximately 150 other families whose children are served by the center were notified of these events and will be monitored by the hospital,” the statement read.
Importantly, the employee followed all appropriate procedures, including daily on-site temperature checks prior to each day at work, and her prompt self-reporting of symptoms resulted in the earliest possible detection. Nationwide Children’s is deeply concerned about all children and staff impacted by this difficult news and will continually monitor and support each child and family. As we embrace our coworkers and their children, we are encouraged that the hospital’s notification and testing protocols worked as intended including our ability to conduct rapid testing on-site. -statement from Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The Ohio Department of Health reported Wednesday that Central Ohio has eight cases of the coronavirus, including a two-year-old Franklin County boy, the first case in Delaware County, and the first two cases associated with Ohio State University.
The toddler’s infection was not the result of community spread, health director Dr. Amy Acton said.
The department reported 88 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in 19 counties. The 55 men and 33 women ranged in age from the toddler up to 91, health director Dr. Amy Acton said. Twenty-six of the patients were hospitalized, many in intensive-care units.
Cuyahoga, with 38 cases, still has by far the most of any of Ohio’s counties, followed by Butler (8) and Franklin (7) and Lorain (6). Medina and Summit counties reported 4 cases apiece, there were 3 cases in Mahoning and Starke counties, 2 each in Belmont, Coshocton, Lake and Trumbull counties. Ashland, Darke, Delaware, Geauga, Huron, Lucas, and Tuscarawas counties have reported one case each.