COLUMBUS — Ohio’s health director says the state’s efforts to slow the the coronavirus are showing positive signs, though Dr. Amy Acton also made a dire prediction of how bad the outbreak could get.
“At our peak surge, we may be as high as six-thousand to eight-thousand new cases a day,” she said Thursday.
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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Ohio Department of Health coronavirus website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The surge could arrive as early as the end of April, but Acton says measure like practicing social distancing, staying home and canceling elective surgeries can delay the onslaught or lessen the burden it will place on the state’s hospitals.
“The more we can push that surge off, the better. Our hospitals are getting ready, they’re getting ready and building out their systems so every day matters,” Acton said
Early modeling shows Ohio is on track to cut the impact on the state’s health care system by 50 to 75 percent, Acton said.
The state is now up to 15 deaths and 867 cases of the virus in 60 counties. The number includes 145 cases and two deaths in central Ohio, according to local and county health departments.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine says he plans on Friday to sign a sweeping relief package to address impacts of the coronavirus after jobless claims skyrocketed last week.
DeWine was initially scheduled to deliver the State of the State address on March 31 in the House Chamber in the Ohio Statehouse but he, House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) have agreed to postpone the speech indefinitely due to the coronavirus.
“We have taken steps to ensure that the business of our state is carried out in a safe and careful manner to protect our many public servants, their families, and anyone with whom they come into contact,” the three said in a joint statement. “In keeping with those ongoing goals, we will not bring together the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor’s Cabinet, and the entire General Assembly in the same place at the same time for the State of the State Address until a later date, after the State of Emergency has concluded.”
The governor is constitutionally-required to communicate the condition of the state to the General Assembly at least once every session.
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Two of Otterbein University’s healthcare programs donated Personal Protective Equipment desperately needed by healthcare providers.
The Department of Nursing and the Athletic Training Program dropped off over 3,000 gowns, face masks, gloves, other equip at the OhioHealth Distribution Warehouse.
The state asking residents and businesses who can donate PPE, or any other essential service or resource, to email together@governor.ohio.gov where staff members will coordinate how these resources can best be used.
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AAA is also now providing free emergency roadside service for healthcare workers and first responders. Emergency roadside assistance is an essential business under DeWine’s stay-at-home order.
The auto club says its technicians will maintain six feet of social distance between themselves and the motorist receiving assistance.
Should a tow be necessary, AAA says it will work with the motorist to help arrange alternative transportation and the technician will remain with the motorist until transportation arrives.