LEPC hears COVID, training updates
Auglaize County Local Emergency Planning Committee members discussed vaccinations and training as well as case numbers on Wednesday.
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Don Jump said they have been reporting an average of four new coronavirus cases each day. The county recently improved from a Level 3 public emergency (red) to a Level 2 (yellow).
Auglaize Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher explained one of the reasons the county has stayed red through the end of February — despite new cases dropping — was because cases have not dropped below 100 per 100,000 people until just recently.
Fisher also explained the state is changing how COVID-19 deaths are included in the statistics, and health department is still reconciling its numbers with state figures. There is currently an almost 30 percent gap between the state and local numbers.
Fisher said when COVID-19 was written on a death certificate things became complicated.
“A positive test might not have been done, but a doctor may have felt they met the criteria,” Fisher said.
Those doctors’ observations are now being taken into account in state data. Fisher speculated the change may have occurred because some populations may not have access to testing.
Jump said 1018 vaccinations had been logged locally: 703 first doses, and 305 second doses. He said they were anticipating another 100 doses of Moderna and 300 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccines to arrive this week.
“We are anticipating increases in shipments as we move forward,” Jump said.
Vaccines in some cases are affecting industrial work. Jeff Clouser, a representative from Setex, said at
a Michigan facility 12 workers had to take leave for three days because they weren’t able to lift their arms after getting the vaccine.
“They had to shut down a complete line, because of those that got it,” Clouser said.
EMA Director Troy Anderson also wanted to get area first responders and industry officials caught up on hazardous materials response training.
That training is expected to be held virtually due to COVID-19 regulations. Ohio EMA representative Sam Reed said the two virtual presentations he had seen were successful.
Anderson also mentioned 8,000 gallons of diesel spilled into the St. Marys River in December. The report from that the environmental cleanup has been filed.