COLUMBUS – Ohio reported a slight decrease in the number of new daily coronavirus cases Tuesday following a series of higher-than-average day-to-day increases.
The Ohio Department of Health reported 590 new cases, compared with a total of nearly 1,300 the previous two days.
Last week, the number of cases started to uptick in what Gov. Mike DeWine identified as a “worrisome” rise in cases in five southwestern Ohio counties.
DeWine also announced loosened restrictions in the state so that every Ohioan is able to be tested for the coronavirus through 19 pop-up testing sites that will be opening across Ohio this week (see illustration above).
There were 46,127 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio Tuesday and 2,735 deaths.
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DeWine unveiled two new broadcast campaigns aimed at spreading awareness of COVID-19 prevention measures.
The first campaign, called “I Believe,” features Dr. Kevin Sharrett, medical director for the Greene County Health Department and the Greene County Coroner since 1997, and Shareece Mashiska, a nurse manager at Mercy Health–St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, focuses on prevention measures Ohioans take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The 15-second ads are provided by the Ohio Department of Health and will air for three weeks on broadcast, cable, and social media across the state.
The second campaign, called “Up to All of Us,” consists of an ad Gary Callicoat, president of Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern, and Dr. Laura Espy-Bell, a Columbus native and board-certified emergency physician. Provided by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, the public-service announcement focuses on the importance of taking proper preventative precautions, such as maintaining social distance and washing hands, as Ohioans return to their workplaces. The ad will air for three weeks on broadcast and cable television.
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The state is also trying to make up for lack of health checkups for children after the coronavirus pandemic led to a significant decrease in pediatric vaccinations.
The number of vaccinations in Ohio fell by approximately 45% between March and June, compared to the number administered during that period a year ago, according to Dr. Sarah Bode, a primary care pediatrician and the medical director of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Care Connection School-Based Health and Mobile Clinics.
“Vaccines are critical to prevent disease and outbreaks. We know this through recent outbreaks of measles, mumps and chicken pox,” Bode said during DeWine’s Tuesday briefing.
Some parents may be concerned about the safety of taking their children to physician’s offices amid the pandemic but Bode says doctors’ offices are taking the proper precautions to protect patients and staff.
In Franklin County, Nationwide clinics handed out 8,000 fewer vaccines than usual during March and April.
Bode said the hospital is working with school districts and health centers to provide immunization clinics where parents can take children for vaccines before the start of the new school year.
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Lt. Governor Husted noted that Independence Day fireworks shows can proceed, but large gatherings are still prohibited at this time.
He encouraged any community that plans on holding a fireworks event to do so safely.
Spectators are encouraged to find ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in small groups such as by watching displays from their porches, backyards, or cars.