Five more Scioto County residents have COVID-19. Scioto County EMA Director Larry Mullins said that brings the total number of cases to 75. EMA reported ten hospitalized with the virus. The county reported no deaths from COVID.
However, rising numbers put the county at risk for Red Health Alert status.
To put the numbers in perspective:
- July 6 – 41 cases
- July 1 – 36 cases
- June 13 – 21 cases
In the course of a month, cases are perilously close to quadrupling. A rising number of cases could put our county into Red Alert status under Governor Mike DeWine’s new Health Alert system. Face masks are mandatory in red counties.
Red Zone
Yesterday, Director Mullins said that keeping the county out of the red zone was a priority. “We are trying not to become a Red Level 3 County. The local government had no input or say in the placement in the Governor and ODH Public Health Advisory System. ”
The indicators used to determine the ranking are:
- Number of new cases based on the population of the county
- A sustained increase in cases
- Cases not coming from high-risk settings like nursing homes or jails
- Increase in ER visits for COVID symptoms
- Sustained Increase in Outpatient visits for COVID symptoms
- Increase in new COVID hospital admissions
- ICU occupancy rate goes above 80% for three days
Masks Required
Director Mullins announced that the Scioto County Clerk of Courts, Room 205 in the Scioto County Courthouse now requires anyone entering their office to wear a mask or a face covering. “This is being done in order to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
Additionally, Portsmouth City Council announced Monday’s meeting is closed to the public. “We have been in contact with the Portsmouth City Health Department and the City Solicitor and it has been brought to our attention that our meetings should NOT be open to the public.”
The meeting will be live-streamed via Facebook on July 13 at 6 pm. City Council plans to vote on mandatory masks at the meeting. Some Ohio cities have passed mandatory mask laws, while others, like Toledo, passed resolutions. The resolution strongly suggest that citizens wear masks but there’s no legal authority to enforce.
Kentucky and West Virginia governors issued mandatory mask rules for their entire states. Masks are required in Red Ohio Counties.
The Levels are:
- 1 Yellow – Active Exposure and Spread
- 2 Orange – Increased exposure and spread
- 3 Red – Very high exposure and spread
- 4 – Purple – Severe exposure and spread
Red Counties in Ohio are:
- Butler
- Clermont
- Cuyahoga
- Franklin
- Fairfield
- Hamilton
- Lorain
- Montgomery
- Pickaway
- Summit
- Trumbull
- Wood
Three of those counties are on the watch list, meaning they are close to reaching Level 4:
- Butler
- Cuyahoga
- Hamilton
Scioto County COVID level is 2.