COLUMBUS – Ohio health leaders are expressing cautious optimism about the COVID-19 pandemic and the holidays.
The state’s top health official says it looks like the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the delta variant has “plateaued,” but Ohio is not out of the woods.
“While it’s tempting, it is far too early for us to claim victory,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said Thursday.
The state reported 5,143 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, about half the number of daily cases reported at the height of the delta variant surge in mid-September, but Vanderhoff says hospitals are still seeing large number of newly admitted patients being treated for the disease.
A panel of FDA advisers Thursday endorsed a booster shot for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for seniors and other high-risk groups.
Vanderhoff recommends Ohioans get vaccinated as soon as possible if they plan to spend Thanksgiving with friends or family because achieving full immunity takes about six weeks from the time an individual gets their first vaccine dose and the holiday is only seven weeks away.
Hallowe’en is even closer and there is still no approved vaccine for children under 12, so Vanderhoff recommends that children wear masks when they go out on Beggar’s Night, which shouldn’t be too inconvenient.
“You know, masking has been part of trick-or-treating for a long time. It’s just this time we’re asking for different kind of mask,” he said.
Vanderhoff also urges parents to observe social-distancing guidelines, trick-or-treat in small group, practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
Columbus officer succumbs to COVID-19
The Columbus Division of Police has announced that an officer has died of complications related to COVID-19.
Officer James Strozyk died Wednesday night at the age of 49, division spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said.
Known as “Jim” to his colleagues, Strozyk was a 17-year veteran who was assigned to the patrol bureau.
He had two children and two grandchildren.