By: Rebecca Miller
Every Friday morning, a conference call is held which is led by Williams County Health Commissioner James Watkins and attended by press and health organizations of the county.
Health Organizations represented on the April 24, 2020 call were Williams County Health Department (WCHD), Department of Aging, United Way, Four County ADAMhs Board (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental health Services of Williams, Fulton, Defiance and Henry Counties) Emergency Management Agency/Emergency Operations Center (EMA/EOC), and County Hospitals of Williams County (CHWC).
Commissioner Watkins shared that even as orders are continually changing, it is important for all individuals to keep practicing the health and safety recommendations of covering your cough, washing hands often and six foot separation. “It will help to get this under control if everyone is personally responsible,” he said.
“Even as we hear the statement that Williams County is a Family Friendly Community,” Watkins said, “we need to remember that this thought includes ALL families in our community.”
He went on to encourage everyone to be kind by doing everything we can to protect all households, wearing a mask when you are out in the community as orders are relaxed.
Director of Nursing at the Health Department, Rachel Aeschliman reported that as of 2:00 on April 23, 2020 there were 23 cases of COVID 19 in Williams County. That number went up because they are working with CCNO (Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio) which now has 15 inmates and 4 staff who have tested positive. The Ohio Department of Health is also working with them. Two of the four staff do reside in Williams County so they are coordinating with the other counties.
“We have known that group places are at risk so we have been working with them all along,” Aeschliman said. “We knew we would be increasing and reporting higher numbers. Wherever there are a lot of people together they are much at risk. We have been working with them to plan and prepare for this.”
Maggie Fisher of the Williams County Department of Aging shared that they have been delivering hot meals for the past twenty-one days and have served just shy of 7000 meals. They are including seniors who would normally have eaten at the centers, so now they have nine routes every day instead of the regular seven.
They also deliver frozen meals so that the seniors have food to eat over the weekends. Any seniors who would like to start receiving hot meals and/or frozen meals can call 419-633-4317 to get that started, or 419-636-4047
The Department of Aging is also providing grocery and medicine pick-ups, medical appointment transportation, and always checking correct COVID-19 protocol. They are contacting the seniors who are not getting meals, to make sure they are fine and to find out if they need anything. Shelf stable meals are being prepared to give out to seniors that can be used into October. They have 125 ready to distribute and are waiting for another 400 to arrive. All of the staff are wearing masks and using distancing while still making sure each senior is safe and fine.
Chasity Yoder from United Way said that they are still collecting masks and have 62 adult right now and 2 children size, with four volunteers still making them. She has spoken to the United Way board about the possibility of purchasing them, so as to replenish the money they have spent on material. “I would like to help the local individuals who are giving of their time and energy in this way,” she said. “We wouldn’t be paying like $10 a mask or anything like that, but to pay them for the cost of the materials I am sure would be helpful.”
ADAMhs Board CEO Rob Giesige informed those on the call that they are still getting information out to first responders and to seniors with lists of resources. Maumee Guidance Center will contact the Department of Aging to send it out with the meals. The providers are open for tele-med or telephone, but are open case by case for face to face.
A new toll free COVID-19 Careline has been opened. He is trying to find out how long it will be up and staffed and then they will be giving out more info. They are not promoting it till they get more info.
Apryl McClaine of EMA/ECO said that everything is still the same. Tuesday and Thursday briefings are continuing and they are working on compiling a list of people who are making masks in Williams County.
CHWC President Chad Tinkel reported that the PPE supply is adequate at the hospital except for “3M1860 small” masks. They are utilizing Battelle for N95 Decontamination. As of April 24, 2020 the hospital has done 98 tests, with 91 negatives back, 5 positives and 2 pending.
On April 22 they started to do some in house testing but due to the very limited supply of these test kitd, they are still sending the majority of testing to University of Toledo Medical Center.
Tinkel continued with comments on the Governor’s requests to hospitals, saying, “On March 17, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued an order that all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures should be suspended. This order was made with three important goals in mind as Ohio prepared for an anticipated significant surge in COVID-19 cases: preserve PPE, preserve inpatient capacity, and promote social distancing in order to reduce the spread of the virus.”
“Due to the significant and successful steps that the state has taken to ensure social distancing and Ohioans’ compliance with the state’s directives, the Governor on April 22, 2020 asked providers to review the need to proceed with any of the postponed procedures or surgeries. Providers are now waiting on Dr. Amy Acton to revise the March 17, 2020 order, which will provide detailed guidance as to when Ohio hospitals can phase-in the start of elective procedures.”
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
