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Coronavirus Update from Ohio Department of Health

February 28, 2020  5078  5078   

 

2/29/2020 - Read the updated health alert from ODH

 

As you are undoubtedly aware, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to be an issue of concern nationally and internationally. To date, containment measures have been effective in minimizing the impact in the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to consider the health risk from COVID-19 to be low among the general public in the U.S. However, there is increasing concern that eventually community person-to-person spread will occur here as it has recently in countries such as South Korea, Italy, and Iran. In this event, our country will need to address COVID-19 by taking steps that ensure we have the human and material resources necessary to combat this virus for the long haul. Our communities will need to implement mitigation strategies to minimize disease spread and providers should be prepared for a surge in patients with COVID-19. In severe circumstances, such a surge could present significant resource issues.

Health care facilities address such concerns on a regular basis in preparedness drills and tabletop exercises. Differences exist in each outbreak or pandemic situation, and lessons learned from past events may not fully cover a new event as it evolves.

As you prepare for potential person-to-person spread in your respective areas, I would like to highlight the latest guidance from the CDC, and encourage you to review and incorporate in your planning.

Use of and conservation of Personal Protective Equipment
• Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators

Information for Healthcare Professionals
• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings, updated February 21, 2020
• Evaluating and Reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI)
• Healthcare Infection Control Guidance
• Clinical Care Guidance
• Home Care Guidance
• Guidance for EMS
• Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure Guidance
• Inpatient Obstetric Healthcare Guidance

General information on mitigation strategies in pandemic prevention
• Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza — United States

Additional resources for health care providers can be found on the Ohio Department of Health's (ODH) website here.

ODH continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 outbreak and work alongside the CDC, local health districts and providers to identify and contain the virus in Ohio. There currently are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio.

As of February 24, 2020, the CDC reports 14 cases of COVID-19 detected and laboratory-confirmed in the U.S., with 12 related to travel and two from person-to-person spread. Additionally, the CDC reports 39 cases of COVID-19 in people repatriated to the U.S. by the Department of State. These include three from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and 36 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

I thank you for your diligence and compassion as we work together to tackle this public health threat.

Sincerely,


Mark Hurst, MD
Medical Director
Ohio Department of Health