The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
DeWine adds curfew in surge
Local leaders respond to governor’s orders
The local fight against novel coronavirus continues to keep officials busy as Lorain County reports an increase of COVID-19 cases Nov. 17 and the state of Ohio announces a 21-day curfew.
Ohioans are asked to remain at their residences from 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning Nov. 19 in an effort to slow community spread.
Since the pandemic began, Lorain County Public Health has reported 4,628 COVID-19 cases and 88 deaths from the virus.
Dire situation
Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, said he believes Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s curfew is a move to try to keep the state open.
Gallo, however, believes a shutdown may be around the corner.
With Lorain County trends going in the wrong direction, the emphasis needs to be on getting everyone healthy, he said.
“I think we need to keep the focus on keeping people out of the hospitals, which are stretched thin and need to be able to help those in most need,” Gallo said. “It will get even more dire as we head to the holidays, and college students come home.
“My thoughts are whatever we can do to prevent a complete shutdown is worth exploring at this point. That would be detrimental to our economy here in Lorain County and all of Ohio. I would implore everyone to keep an open mind and do what we can to keep our employees, residents, friends and family safe and COVID free.”
Grim assessment
On Nov. 16, Gallo was
among more than a dozen participants of an online meeting of the Lorain County Community Protection Team.
The virtual gathering was led by Lorain County Commissioner Matt Lundy, who began the conference call series last week to coordinate information for local leaders.
The group heard a grim message from Lorain County Public Health Commissioner Dave Covell.
Lorain County had 165 new cases reported Nov. 16, so the agency is all hands on deck to deal with COVID-19, Covell said.
“This is not just from increased testing, this is clearly a higher percent positive, more virus moving in the community,” he said.
After serving as a calming influence, Covell said if Ohio got to the point of filling up hospitals like in Italy or New York, the participants would hear his tone change.
“Hopefully, you’re hearing my message change because we are on the edge of that right now,” he said. “We’re really at a point that as we move into the holidays, if we keep this level up, there’s no controlling this virus.
“It’s going to be loose, and there’s nothing we’re going to be able to do about it.”
Kristi Sink, president of University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center, agreed.
“I wish I could argue with everything that Dave just told you, but I can’t,” Sink said.
She said the Elyria hospital is at its highest census since she has been there.
There are more positive tests for COVID-19, the intensive care unit is at capacity and the hospital has opened another floor to increase capacity, Sink said.
“I would say we’re holding our own, we’re doing OK, but for this to continue at the exponential rate we’ve seen over the last week and a half, three weeks from now, it looks grim,” she said.
Sink credited her staff for their sense of purpose, but
noted they are tired from dealing with pandemic conditions since March.
As for the Community Protection Team, Lundy said he anticipates meeting Tuesday afternoons for the near future.
DeWine called for the meetings because he was concerned some county leaders were not working together, Lundy said.
But that is not a issue in Lorain County, he said, because elected officials and business leaders look for ways to cooperate.
Participants included Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley, Sheffield Village Mayor John Hunter, Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen, Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka and North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran; Lorain County Probate Judge James Walther; Franco Gallo, superintendent of the Lorain County Educational Service Center; Clare Rosser, communications and community relations director of the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County; and Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, director of the Lorain Public Library System.