County health board hears virus update

Auglaize County Health Department Nursing Director Brenda Eiting said there has been continued COVID-19 community spread in Auglaize County.

Meeting Tuesday, the county health board learned in the last month there were 162 confirmed coronavirus cases in September as well as 62 probable cases. Eiting said spread has not been tied to specific incidents. She said this number was comparable to the 225 total cases in August.

Board member Kim Preuter wanted to help those contact tracers who are feeling physical and mental stress from the pandemic.

Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said the Ohio Department of Health is expected to provide a few more employees to help with contact tracing, but said that is not a permanent fix. He wants to investigate possible funding from the CARES Act dollars assigned to Auglaize County.

Board member Dr. Tom Freytag suggested they streamline the contact tracing process and triage calls or take volunteers. Fisher said they would only want to train volunteers if they knew someone would have availability for an extended period of time. Fisher said he would write down ideas and considerations, but didn’t want to make drastic changes to the contact tracing process without board support. He said their main goal with contact tracing is to keep people safe.

Board members also discussed a fiscal software proposal that would cost $56,221 to install and have an annual subscription of more than $8,000. Fiscal officer Tammy Wiford said the current system is no

longer supported. Many of the board members reading the estimate expressed sticker shock. Board members did not make an immediate decision, but planned to see if there was a way to reduce the cost.

The health department will also hold its first drive-thru clinic Oct. 21 at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Board members had recently observed a Mercer County clinic to prepare for the event.

The board also approved several orders including a proof of a rabies vaccination for a dog belonging to Michelle Hoskins, of St. Marys and a dog belonging to Collin Polling of Cridersville. There was also a 14day order to repair an aeration system for Zachary Nuttle of Wapakoneta and Patricia Maker of Spencerville.

They also approved a vaccination storage agreement renewal with Wapakoneta High School.