By Melody Vallieu
Miami Valley Today
MIAMI COUNTY — Reported COVID-19 cases in Miami County are at 121 as of Monday, according to Miami County Public Health (MCPH) officials.
The death toll for the county is now at 15, one more than reported as of Friday.
The case age range of those affected is less than 1 year to 96 years old, with 70 females and 51 males, according to MCPH officials.
To date, there are 41 nursing home residents who have contracted the virus and 34 healthcare workers, including nursing home staff, according to MCPH officials. This leaves 46 cases to be considered community spread.
While MCPH officials said they do not know if there is adequate testing available in the county for the virus, they have heard the Ohio Department of Health is beginning to experience delays in testing results and that private labs are known to take even longer.
Governor Mike DeWine asked Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton to issue an order that will require long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, to notify residents and their families within 24 hours of a resident or staff member becoming infected with coronavirus. The state also will be providing a list of the facilities where an associated individual has tested positive on its website.
To promote mental health and help combat the challenges of limited personal interaction during this trying time, the director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Lori Criss is implementing the “Strive for Five” program. Through the campaign, Ohioans are encouraged to reach out to five people, over the next 30 days, through a variety of methods. While gathering isn’t an option right now, community members can reach out by phone, text, web, social media and other technology-based applications.
The state of Ohio, as of Monday, has 6,975 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which includes 94 probable cases with the Center for Disease Control’s expanded case definition, according to Dr. Acton.
“The good news is we’re staying flat. Just like our curve has shown, we seem to be having a very, very flat, steady peak. We’re still at that peak and it’s very stable at this point,” Dr. Acton said.
There have been 2,033 hospitalizations in Ohio with 898 people currently hospitalized, according to Dr. Acton. A total of 274 deaths, with six cases included in the probable case definition, have been recorded. The age range is from under age 1 to 101 years old and the median age remains 54.
Cases include 48 percent males and 52 percent females in the state, according to Dr. Acton.
Eighty six of 88 counties have recorded cases and 46 counties have recorded deaths.
More than 65,000 Ohioans have been tested.
