Richland County stays in ‘red’
RICHLAND COUNTY- Richland County stayed out of the purple on Thursday in Ohio’s coronavirus color-coded system, keeping businesses and other entities open.
On Oct. 1, the state had elevated Richland County to red in the color-coded coronavirus system and also reported that Richland County was approaching level 4 purple that represents “severe exposure and spread” of coronavirus.
Richland County remained in the red in the latest update from the state on Thursday, Oct. 8.The Risk Level 3/Red designation is the third time Richland County has been flagged as a red county, Richland Public Health reported in a news release.
The Level 3 Risk designation means that there is very high exposure and spread of COVID-19 in Richland County,” the release stated. “Richland County residents are encouraged to limit activities as much as possible and to follow all current health orders.”
Prior to the state and county updates, officials in Shelby were waiting to see Richland County’s color designation and any possible ramifications if a purple designation were to occur.
Shelby schools Superintendent Tim Tarvin issued an update Thursday afternoon.
“As you may have already learned, Richland County still falls within the RED designation which means it will be business as usual tomorrow [Friday, Oct. 9] for the Shelby City Schools, and we will be open for faceto-face instruction as we have been since school began on August 24th,” Tarvin wrote in a statement posted on the school district’s website.
“As I have mentioned previously, we want to keep our schools open, and we are working diligently to make that happen by having our staff and students follow proper safety precautions,” Tarvin also said. “Any assistance you can provide to that end will have longterm benefits for our students. Thank you in advance for that help; we appreciate your continued support and understanding...”
Richland County has seen 121 new positive COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks, Richland Public Health said Thursday.
In a separate statement about cases in Shelby, Mayor Steve Schag said: “The Shelby City Health Department is pleased to report that three individuals have recently attained recovered/resolved status.”
“There have been no new coronavirus cases documented within our jurisdiction since October 5th,” Schag added.
In his televised briefing and on Twitter on Thursday, Gov. Mike Dewine painted a declining picture in Ohio.
“There are 18 red counties — the highest number since the week of July 23. There are 58 orange counties this week -- the highest ever,” he reported.
“The virus is spreading in more areas of the state and impacting a wider swath of Ohioans,” Dewine said. “Local health departments tell us this is due to lax social distancing, not enough people wearing masks, and people not following quarantine and isolation guidance.”
Dewine said that as of this week, 96 percent of Ohioans are living in a red or orange county. “That’s 26% in our 18 red counties and 70% in our orange counties,” he added. “Only 4% of Ohioans are in the 12 yellow counties.”
COVID outbreaks related to funerals or weddings were reported in half of the new red counties, Dewine said. That included the deaths of two grandfathers of a wedding couple.
Ohio reported 1,539 new cases in Ohio as cases continued a concerning upward trend, the governor said.
“To live with the virus, we need to adjust our routines,” Dewine said. “That may mean reconsidering attending a crowded event or going to a party...”
“Our basic prevention measures hold as true today as they did at the beginning of the pandemic: Stay home when you are sick — even if you think you have allergies or a common cold,” he said. “Wear a mask. Social distance. And quarantine when you are exposed.”
Daily Globe Staff Reporter
SHELBY — As it awaited word on whether Richland County would move to purple in the state’s coronavirus color-coded system and any ramifications, the Shelby City Health Department provided an update Wednesday to City Council’s Safety Committee on the Shelby case count.
Some of the increase in cases can be attributed to working at congregate facilities such as nursing homes and prisons, Shelby director of nursing Tiffiny Ellenberger said.
The meeting included a discussion of mask-wearing and compliance.
Committee member and Councilman Garland Gates cited a personal experience at a Main Street retail business that he did not name.
“In this particular case, there were three employees in there wearing masks, all down under their chins,” Gates recalled. “When I said something to one about wearing her mask up over her nose as I was wearing mine up over my nose, she more or less just blew me off, mumbled something and turned and walked away.”
Beth Conrad, the city of Shelby’s director of environmental health, told the committee on Wednesday, “What we do is if we get a complaint, we go out and talk to them about it and say, ‘This is what you’re supposed to do.’ ”
When it comes to issues of people not wearing masks, Conrad said she was advised via a city legal official that no law is being broken. So, “I don’t have anything I can do,” Conrad told committee members.
Later, Gates said in reference to mask-wearing, “If people choose to be stupid…there’s a saying, and you’ve probably seen bumper stickers, ‘You can’t fix stupid.’”
“And that may well be where we are at,” Gates added.
In other business, Shelby Fire Chief Mike Thompson reported that Richland County Emergency Management Agency officials had dropped off Covid-related supplies for Shelby crews to use in the field.
“Gowns, N95 masks, some patient masks,” Thompson said. “That was well-received.”
Also at the meeting, Thompson highlighted fire safety.
“Since this is Fire Safety Week, just to remind everybody about open burning — there is none, other than 3x3 dry, clean wood,” he said.
“And if you live against that field — a cornfield or a bean field and it is very dry,” Thompson said, “please reconsider before you do that, before you have a problem.”
Thompson also updated the committee on a grant proposal involving MARCS — the new “Multi-agency Radio Communications System.”
“What we are all eligible for is half of our service costs,” Thompson said of the grant through the state State Fire Marshal’s office.
“So half of what we have right now is $4,300,” he added.
Legislation is to be presented to Shelby City Council for consideration.
“It goes toward keeping the system up to date,” Thompson said after the committee meeting of the grant-related funds.
A goal is to avoid a lag in service or machines getting old and beyond their life expectancy and being in a position where no money exists to fix the issue, he explained.
“This is suppose to be ongoing where they can continually upgrade, upgrade, upgrade with the equipment...” he added.