Coronavirus In Ohio: More Than 7,000 Cases, 320 Dead

COLUMBUS, OH — The new coronavirus outbreak in Ohio continues to worsen. There have now been 7,280 COVID-19 cases since the crisis began, and 324 Ohioans have died due to complications from the virus.

Dr. Amy Acton, director of the state health department, said Ohioans should expect waves of COVID-19 cases until a vaccine is developed. In the interim, state health officials will need to build out capacity to care for sudden spikes of patients.

"We are issuing a new order to share positive COVID-19 patient name and address info with dispatchers so that first responders can be properly protected when responding to an emergency," Acton said. All patient information will remain confidential otherwise.

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The Ohio Department of Health said more than 2,100 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms. More than 650 of those hospitalizations were moved to intensive care units.

Cuyahoga County leads Ohio with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,239. Mahoning County has seen the most death related to the virus, with 35 confirmed dead.

Protesters disturbed Monday's daily news conference, featuring Gov. Mike DeWine and Acton. The raucous crowd banged on windows of the Ohio Statehouse and shouted for the governor to reopen businesses.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, at least 700,000 Ohioans have filed for unemployment. Nationwide, nearly 10 percent of the eligible population is out of work.

Treating Ohioans

DeWine announced Tuesday that Ohio has applied for a federal waiver, known as a 1135 or Appendix K, to bolster its Medicaid services to residents. The waiver would let medical professionals use telehealth technology to do health assessments and care planning. The waiver would also:

• Waive signature requirements for many medical professionals, so they can ensure safe distancing without compromising their quality of care
• Ease obstacles to nursing home care
• Allow medical services to be provided at alternative locations
• Remove staffing level requirements at some medical facilities

"Removing restrictions like these during this pandemic will allow health care workers to focus on meeting the needs of Ohioans," DeWine said.

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Ohio State University Aids Coronavirus Victims With Recovered Patient's Plasma — This week, medical staff at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are working to help patients battling the new coronavirus in central and northern Ohio by transfusing them with plasma...read more.