The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Cases surge locally, statewide
Health Commissioner Dave Covell urges caution as economy opens
Lorain County Public Health Commissioner Dave Covell is encouraging residents and businesses to remain vigilant as Ohio sees an uptick in cases of novel coronavirus.
On July 1, Covell addressed the Lorain County Board of Commissioners and said the county’s daily average has increased to about 10 as the state of Ohio has reopened several sectors of the economy in recent weeks.
As of July 1, Lorain County has a total of 829 confirmed COVID-19 cases in addition to 117 probable cases along with 60 deaths, Covell said.
Out of those cases, 562 have recovered.
Covell said the numbers have fluctuated averaging five cases per day at the start of the pandemic and then increasing to 10 at the peak of the slope.
In early May, Lorain County numbers began to drop back to five cases per day, he said.
The most recent numbers have tracked with what public health officials are seeing statewide.
“So since we’ve opened up, and then
Ohio, we’ve clearly led the nation in really doing a good job of understanding how to close down quickly, but open it slowly,” Covell said. “We’ve done a pretty good job.”
Covell noted the recent spike unexpectedly was attributed to younger people between the ages of 20 and 40, which has made the difference.
The importance of maintaining social distance and wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible, especially in indoor settings, are the proper things to do, he said.
“I think it really is all about how do we help our neighbor, how do we help people here in Lorain County to not let this thing spread,” Covell said. “And the more we do that, and the more courteous we can be when it comes to keeping your space and wearing a mask when you need to, the better off we’re going to be.”
While Lorain County is not at a point where Covell believes a mask mandate is necessary, he said it is an option that could be on the table should recent trends continue.
“Again, at this point, we’re not there,” he said. “But we all need to be understanding that in order to keep businesses moving in this county, we need to be respectful of other people and respectful of that business.”
Lorain City School Board President Mark Ballard addressed the commissioners recounting his father’s death from COVID-19.
Clarence Ballard, 80, died in early May, his son said.
A radio-personality, gospel singer, church deacon, and a longtime employee of Ford Motor Co., he was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early April after there were concerns about his sleeping a lot.
A “young 80” with a vibrant personality, the younger Ballard said in the course of a month, his father went from having another 15-20 years of life, to passing away.
Ballard said losing his father has been a very difficult period for his family, but he added he is concerned right now.
“We still don’t have a vaccine; we still don’t have any kind of solution to this thing,” he said. “But it seems like the economy is pressing everybody to go back to normal.
“And I’m telling you, now’s not the time to go back to normal. We can’t do it.”
“We still don’t have a vaccine; we still don’t have any kind of solution to this thing. But it seems like the economy is pressing everybody to go back to normal. And I’m telling you, now’s not the time to go back to normal. We can’t do it.”
— Mark Ballard, whose father died May 6 of coronavirus