By Melody Vallieu

Miami Valley Today

MIAMI COUNTY — Miami County Coroner Dr. William Ginn has has identified ​Ralph Brown, 90, of Troy, as the ninth Miami County resident to die due to COVID-19. Mr. Brown was a resident of SpringMeade Health Center.

Diane Estep, 63, of Piqua, has been identified as the 10th person to die from the virus. She passed away on Friday. Mrs. Estep was a resident of Koester Pavilion.

According to Miami County Public Health officials, there are currently 90 confirmed cases, which includes the deaths. According to the city of Piqua, 11 of the confirmed cases are in Piqua. The Ohio Department of Health is reporting 31 of the confirmed cases in Miami County are currently hospitalized.

MCPH officials said on Monday that of the total cases, 21 are healthcare workers and 31 cases are those associated with long-term care, including residents and employees. This leaves 38 cases that are considered community spread. MCPH officials said they are continuing their contact tracing investigation to differentiate between those linked to the nursing homes and those cases that have been community spread.

The age range of those infected in the county is between 16-96 years of age, and there are 51 females and 39 males. The onset dates of cases are between March 9-29.

Premier Health officials report that UVMC and their other facilities do currently have enough PPE for staff.

“We have adequate PPE for our current needs, and we continue to take proactive steps to prepare for the future. We have received some PPE from the Government Strategic National Stockpile,” Premier Health officials said.

Premier Health officials also said they currently have appropriate space within the hospital for respiratory patients.

“Currently, Upper Valley Medical Center has the capacity and equipment to take care of all respiratory patients being admitted to the hospital,” Premier Health officials said. “In collaboration with community partners, we are actively monitoring admission needs and planning for the probable future increase of patients to be in the best position to provide the level of care needed.”

However, Premier Health officials said they are preparing for the future now.

“In collaboration with our public health partners, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association and our community partners, and as the state of Ohio has required, we are actively working on our future preparedness to manage the COVID-19 spread,” Premier Health officials said. “We have always partnered with other hospitals to ensure that patients have access to the right level of care. In addition, there is a regional surge plan is being coordinated through GDAHA that will ensure our patients continue to have access to appropriate care.”

Kettering Health Network, which has Troy Hospital, did not immediately respond to questions on Monday.

According to ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton, there are now at least 4,450 documented COVID-19 cases in the state of Ohio. Of those cases, 1,214 people are hospitalized with 371 of the people in intensive care. She said 48,378 tests have been done in Ohio to date. They said their contact tracing to identify those related to the Koester Pavilion and SpringMeade Health Center outbreak and those that were community spread continues.

The age range of those affected is under the age of 1 to 101 years with a median age of 54 years old. There are 48 percent cases that are males and 52 percent that are females. Acton said 61 percent of the state’s deaths are white people, 27 percent black and 10 percent that they do not have race or ethnicity noted.

The number of deaths has climbed to 142 in the state with a median age of 78 years old and leaning toward males. There are 31 counties in the state that have now recorded deaths.

Acton said the good news is that the ODH has worked to put new processes in place with hospitals to learn about those who have recovered from the virus. She said the ODH has now recorded 303 cases of those who have been hospitalized and discharged and 25 percent of those cases have now reached “that period of recovery.”

“It’s a small number. It’s really a shot in the dark. I know folks really want to see those recovery numbers, as do we, because obviously our whole goal is to move all of us to that place of recovery and get us back to life,” Acton said.

Late April to May 5 is now the expected peak for Ohio, according to Acton.