Rise in cases in Vermilion.

Vermilion has seen reported positive novel coronavirus cases quadruple within the last few months, with cases doubling even within the past few weeks.

Mayor Jim Forthofer said during a Vermilion City Council Health and Safety Committee meeting on Oct. 19 there was somewhere around nine to 12 cases in the city limits back in the spring.

In the summer months, cases peaked at 26.

Now, within the past week of Oct. 12, 55 total cases were reported in the city.

“This doubling over the past month reflects the COVID-19 trend in surrounding counties and the state of Ohio,” Forthofer said during the meeting.

Of those total 55 cases, four were reported this week alone, with two cases requiring hospitalization.

Forthofer clarified that these cases are reported as people who reside in the city who have tested positive for COVID-19. It doesn’t necessarily mean they contracted the virus within city limits.

Whether or not surrounding municipalities have more or less cases than Vermilion, he said, cases within the city limits specifically are what he is concerned about.

Despite the spike in cases, the mayor said he hopes the city is able to go back to normal activities and duties in 2021.

“In order to be able to do that, in just a mere eight, 10 months from now, we really need to pay attention to the protocol,” Forthofer said, adding that includes wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands frequently.

“If we want to get to where we want to go, returning to the Vermilion that we know, we need to adhere to these protocols,”

Forthofer said.

Additionally, the city administration reported its first positive case recently.

Forthofer said an employee attending the Oct. 8 Boards and Commissions meeting, held at the Decatur Municipal Court facility, tested positive four days after the meeting.

He said he alerted the Erie County Health Department, which investigated the exposure.

The court facility was also sanitized before activities in the building resumed.

A city employee was then quarantined and another isolated.

“No further contamination has been determined and I do not find it necessary to take broader actions regarding administration operations at this time,” Forthofer said.

He said he has encouraged Boards and Commissions to meet virtually for the next 30 days.