Health Commissioner calls on public to limit activities

Geauga Public Health Commissioner Tom Quade says, in a news release, the recent exponential growth of COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days is cause for substantial changes.

Geauga County remains in the second highest risk level of the Public Health Advisory System. For the first time since the implementation of the system, one county, Franklin, has moved to the highest risk level resulting in guidance to only leave home for necessary supplies. Lake County is poised to potentially hit that level next week.

Quade said that three of the advisory system metrics are quite sobering.

“Our own daily increase of new cases has skyrocketed over the last two weeks. Our cases are literally coming in at a rate that is tenfold from what they were and that trend is continuing,” he said in the release.

Quade is recommending that all employers exercise remote work plans where possible to limit outbreaks within their workplace. Geauga Public Health will begin implementing its own remote work environment plans as a result of the recent increase in cases. No businesses are being asked to close but they are all being asked to be diligent in the use of masks on both employees and patrons.

“I am hopeful that the politicization of disease prevention can be put on hold at least temporarily so the community as a whole can be encouraged to work in unison to save lives,” Quade continued in the release. “The science is clear. Mask use and distancing reduce viral transmission and will ultimately save lives. When you wear a mask and when your business requires employees and patrons to wear masks, the message you are sending is that you care about others. It is as simple as that.”