COLUMBUS – Franklin County Public Health on Sunday confirmed two additional cases of the coronavirus outside the City of Columbus as the number of victims statewide grows to 37 in 11 counties.
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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Fourteen cases are in Cuyahoga County, six in Butler County, three each in Franklin County and Stark County, two each in Belmont, Lorain, Summit and Trumbull countiers and one each in Lucas, Medina and Tuscarawas counties.
The Ohio Department of Health also reported that 350 people were being tested for the disease.
The three confiirmed cases in Franklin County include a Columbus firefighter/EMT assigned to Fire Station 24 at Karl and Morse Roads who became ill last week, said Robin Davis, spokeswoman for Mayor Andrew Ginther.
The firefighter has been isolated at their home and is under a physician’s care and 31 firefighters who had contact with the individual at the station are currently being evaluated, Davis said.
Fire Station 24 that serves the Northland neighborhood and the Division of Fire and Franklin County Public Health were working to contact anyone else with whom the firefighter had contact, including those who he may have interacted with during service calls, Davis said.
“We are well prepared for emergencies, including the outbreak of COVID-19,” said Fire Chief Kevin O’Connor. “Because our firefighters work in teams and they train together, eat together and sleep in the same areas, they are at risk for possible exposure. We must be diligent in protecting our greatest assets — our firefighter/EMTs – so that they can continue to protect and serve the people of Columbus.”
Fire Station 24 was taken out of service Sunday to be professionally sanitized and was due to be back online later in the day. Three emergency vehicles have been decontaminated.
There are two additional confirmed cases in Franklin County.
Columbus Public Health confirmed the first case in it jurisdiction Saturday, a 49-year-old man who who had recently traveled on the Carnival cruise ship Valor, Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.
Roberts asked any central Ohio resident who was on this cruise to call 614-645-1519.
Columbus Public Health serves the cities of Columbus and Worthington. Franklin County Public Health’s jurisdiction includes 14 cities, 17 townships and 10 villages.