Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 8, 2024 1:32:48 GMT
COVID cases ticking upward - Published Sept 6, 2024
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the county, but there are numerous ways to combat the virus.
According to data from the Ohio Department of Health, there were 244.6 COVID-19 cases per capita in Ashtabula County from Aug. 22 to Sept. 4. From July 25 to Aug. 7, that number was 73.
Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said he is not surprised by the increase in cases.
“This was discussed back when the COVID cases were letting up a little bit, that more than likely, this would probably be something that we are going to be dealing with on a year-by-year basis, like flu, we’re going to see a different strain that’s going to pop up from time to time,” he said.
Becker said COVID is easier to manage now, with what health care professionals know about it at this point.
He said the county health department is expecting to receive a shipment of the newest COVID-19 vaccine within the next couple months.
“We will definitely post it when we do receive it, and we will be offering, as we always do, vaccine clinics,” Becker said.
He said guidelines are not as restrictive as they were in the past.
“It’s a completely different strain, thank goodness, that we’re dealing with now, and we now have tools to use against it,” Becker said. “So it’s a completely different battlefield, which is a good thing.”
He said it is important to keep vaccinations up to date, similar to the flu.
“We should be getting flu vaccine in shortly, we’re not there yet,” Becker said. “But both of these could come in at the same time, and if that’s the case, there’s nothing wrong with getting a flu shot in one arm, and in another arm, you get your COVID [vaccine].”
COVID-19 has been downgraded from a Class A disease to a Class B disease, the same category as the flu, he said.
“It’s just something that we’re going to be dealing with for the foreseeable future, we don’t know just how long,” Becker said. “But I would expect that COVID’s going to be with us for quite some time.”
Becker encouraged people to exercise caution if they’re not feeling well.
There are free COVID-19 tests available from the three health departments in the county, and the Ashtabula County Health Department is giving people at least two tests, he said.
“They should be taking a COVID test, very easy to do, to really make sure they don’t have COVID,” Becker said. “If they do have COVID, I would recommend that, with that extra COVID test, that they wait up to three days to retake the test, after they’ve been staying home from work or from school, before they go back to work or school, just to make sure that they’re no longer positive, that they’re not going to give it to someone else.”
Since the start 2020, there have been 29,813 COVID-19 cases in Ashtabula County, resulting in 2,021 hospitalizations and 504 deaths, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Nichele Blood, the health commissioner for the Conneaut Health Department, said COVID cases tend to rise in the fall.
“We will start seeing it more, especially as the weather starts changing. I’m predicting an increase just because in years past, we have seen, especially October, November, December,” she said.
Blood also said COVID-responses are changing now that vaccines are not free.
“Things have kind of changed with the way that they used to be free. Now, they’re not free. So, we’re trying to figure out that middle ground for here at the department on how we’re going to do COVID vaccines,” she said. “We’re still waiting on the state’s guidance.”
The Ashtabula City Health Department has seen an increase in positive cases.
“The school year starting has been a factor and we are beginning to enter respiratory season,” said Christine Hill, Ashtabula city health commissioner. “We are still encouraging everyone to stay up to date with their vaccinations. We have not received our COVID vaccine for the 2024 to 2025 season, but we anticipate to have it around mid-September.”
The department encourages everyone to follow the CDC’s respiratory guidance and stay home if sick or symptomatic to limit the spread.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the county, but there are numerous ways to combat the virus.
According to data from the Ohio Department of Health, there were 244.6 COVID-19 cases per capita in Ashtabula County from Aug. 22 to Sept. 4. From July 25 to Aug. 7, that number was 73.
Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said he is not surprised by the increase in cases.
“This was discussed back when the COVID cases were letting up a little bit, that more than likely, this would probably be something that we are going to be dealing with on a year-by-year basis, like flu, we’re going to see a different strain that’s going to pop up from time to time,” he said.
Becker said COVID is easier to manage now, with what health care professionals know about it at this point.
He said the county health department is expecting to receive a shipment of the newest COVID-19 vaccine within the next couple months.
“We will definitely post it when we do receive it, and we will be offering, as we always do, vaccine clinics,” Becker said.
He said guidelines are not as restrictive as they were in the past.
“It’s a completely different strain, thank goodness, that we’re dealing with now, and we now have tools to use against it,” Becker said. “So it’s a completely different battlefield, which is a good thing.”
He said it is important to keep vaccinations up to date, similar to the flu.
“We should be getting flu vaccine in shortly, we’re not there yet,” Becker said. “But both of these could come in at the same time, and if that’s the case, there’s nothing wrong with getting a flu shot in one arm, and in another arm, you get your COVID [vaccine].”
COVID-19 has been downgraded from a Class A disease to a Class B disease, the same category as the flu, he said.
“It’s just something that we’re going to be dealing with for the foreseeable future, we don’t know just how long,” Becker said. “But I would expect that COVID’s going to be with us for quite some time.”
Becker encouraged people to exercise caution if they’re not feeling well.
There are free COVID-19 tests available from the three health departments in the county, and the Ashtabula County Health Department is giving people at least two tests, he said.
“They should be taking a COVID test, very easy to do, to really make sure they don’t have COVID,” Becker said. “If they do have COVID, I would recommend that, with that extra COVID test, that they wait up to three days to retake the test, after they’ve been staying home from work or from school, before they go back to work or school, just to make sure that they’re no longer positive, that they’re not going to give it to someone else.”
Since the start 2020, there have been 29,813 COVID-19 cases in Ashtabula County, resulting in 2,021 hospitalizations and 504 deaths, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Nichele Blood, the health commissioner for the Conneaut Health Department, said COVID cases tend to rise in the fall.
“We will start seeing it more, especially as the weather starts changing. I’m predicting an increase just because in years past, we have seen, especially October, November, December,” she said.
Blood also said COVID-responses are changing now that vaccines are not free.
“Things have kind of changed with the way that they used to be free. Now, they’re not free. So, we’re trying to figure out that middle ground for here at the department on how we’re going to do COVID vaccines,” she said. “We’re still waiting on the state’s guidance.”
The Ashtabula City Health Department has seen an increase in positive cases.
“The school year starting has been a factor and we are beginning to enter respiratory season,” said Christine Hill, Ashtabula city health commissioner. “We are still encouraging everyone to stay up to date with their vaccinations. We have not received our COVID vaccine for the 2024 to 2025 season, but we anticipate to have it around mid-September.”
The department encourages everyone to follow the CDC’s respiratory guidance and stay home if sick or symptomatic to limit the spread.