By Haylee Pence
TROY – During their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the Miami County Commissioners heard a COVID update from Joel Smith, director of Miami County’s Emergency Management Agency.
The total positive COVID cases in Miami County has hit 24,948 cases with 422 deaths. In the past two weeks, there have been 41 COVID-related deaths, Smith said. The case rate is 2,194.7 cases per 100,000 residents, which saw an increase from two weeks ago. Miami County’s case rate is higher than the state’s case rate. According to the Ohio Department of Health, the state’s case rate during that same time was 1,582 cases per 100,000 residents. These numbers do not reflect at-home testing.
Miami County Public Health (MCPH) released a COVID update on Tuesday afternoon. According to MCPH officials, for the month of January, there were 5,644 new COVID cases, 185 hospitalizations, and 54 deaths.
The winter season is here, but there are several things we can do to help stay healthy and avoid spreading germs to others, including:
• Get a COVID-19 and flu vaccine as soon as you can;
• If you are sick or have symptoms, stay home (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, congestion, and runny nose);
• If you have symptoms, get tested;
• Wear a mask if you are in public indoor setting and not fully vaccinated;
• Practice safe social distancing; and,
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.
MCPH offers both COVID-19 and flu vaccines by appointment only. MCPH COVID-19 vaccine clinics are open to all individuals aged 12 and older (12 and older for Pfizer and 18 and older for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson). Booster doses for COVID-19 vaccines are now available for persons 12 years old and over. MCPH will have a vaccine clinic for those 12 and older on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
MCPH will also have a special COVID vaccine clinic for ages 5-11 from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 11.
Register online at https://www.miamicountyhealth.net/vaccine-registration or to schedule an appointment by phone, please call 937-573-3500, option 1.
For information visit: https://www.miamicountyhealth.net.
Also on Tuesday, the commissioners authorized two resolutions. The first resolution the commissioners approved involved an addendum to the 2022 Subsidy/Reclaim Grant (ODYS) for the Juvenile Court. The addendum is for the increase in the grant amount by $83,927.03 for a new total grant amount of $520,390.21. The increase is to reflect changes for an increase in pay rate for employees, the addition of a new employee, and the removal of three employees.
The next resolution involved setting the hearing date for a change in zoning at North Branch Land Company LLC. in Monroe Township and for Jonathan Woodward also in Monroe Township. The date for the hearing is Tuesday, Feb. 22, following their regular meeting.
