Lake County sets new COVID-19 investigation protocols

The Lake County General Health District Nov. 18 stated the surge in novel coronavirus cases since Nov. 1 has made it necessary to revisit case interview and contract tracing procedures and “prioritize activities that will maximize the number of lives saved.

“The difficult decision has been made to shift staff resources to conducting case interviews, and limit contact tracing activities for most confirmed cases of COVID-19,” the health district stated in a news release.

Lake County General Health District officials said Nov. 17 that they’ve seen more cases in the past two weeks than they did from when they reported their first case March 17 through

Nov. 2. The Lake County General Health District releases COVID-19 data reports each Wednesday, with data as of 2 p.m.

Tuesday. For the third straight week, Lake County saw a record number of cases. Between Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 there were 1,598 new COVID-19 cases reported. The week prior there were 1,020 new cases reported. The week before that there were 490 new cases reported.

“Systematic testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation and quarantine remain the cornerstone of an effective public health response to the COVID-19 epidemic,” Lake County Commissioner Ron Graham said in a statement.

“However, the ongoing high level of disease activity in Lake

County, and across Ohio, is resulting in alarming numbers of cases and exposed contacts that exceed the capacity of the public health workforce in nearly all jurisdictions.

“Similar to how hospitals postpone elective surgeries and prioritize care to certain high-risk patients, public health must prioritize and adjust to rapidly changing conditions in a community.”

The health district stated Lake County residents can expect the following:

• The health district will only contact confirmed cases of COVID-19, rather than probable cases, reported via the Ohio Disease Reporting System.

Interviews will be conducted to determine isolation periods, identify close contacts, and determine the risk of transmission to vulnerable populations.

• The health district is requesting confirmed cases communi

cate directly to their own close contacts to notify of possible exposure.

The health district will conduct limited contact tracing only if those individuals are determined to be at high risk for severe disease, are critical infrastructure workers, or are at risk for creating an outbreak. As a result, contact tracing will not occur in most situations.

People diagnosed with COVID-19 who are having symptoms, as well as those who have tested positive for COVID-19 but are not showing symptoms, are instructed to isolate at home. When isolating at home, the health district stated people should:

• Stay home except to get medical care.

• Monitor symptoms. Seek medical care immediately if having trouble breathing.

• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.

• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.

• Clean and sanitize any commonly touched surfaces such as door knobs, remote controls, etc.

• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.

• Wear a mask when around other people living in the household.

Those with COVID-19 may discontinue isolation and resume normal activities when 10 days have passed since the first date of symptoms, they are fever-free for at least 24 hours using no feverreducing medications, and symptoms have improved, the health district state.

Those with COVID-19 who have been without any symptoms may discontinue isolation 10 days from the date of their positive test.

The health district stated close contacts of individuals with COVID-19 should quarantine at home for 14 days.

A close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test date) until the time the patient is isolated.

“During quarantine, a person should monitor their own temperature and look for symptoms of COVID-19,” the health district stated.

“If possible, stay away from vulnerable or high-risk individuals living in the household. If someone with COVID-19 is unable to isolate from those living in their household, close contacts within the household must quarantine for an additional 14 days after the confirmed case’s original 10-day isolation period ends.”