COVID-19 Update: K-12 Staff Vaccinations, Pandemic Impacts on K-12 Kids

January 28, 2021 Dan Ramey

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

K-12 STAFF VACCINATIONS

Every public school district in the state – except for one – has agreed to resume in-person schooling by March 1 which was a requirement for staff to have early access to the vaccine.

K-12 schools whose staff can be vaccinated next week have been notified. All other schools will be contacted tomorrow with information on when their K-12 staff will be permitted to receive a vaccine.

More details on Ohio’s K-12 vaccination process will also be released on Friday. The plan ensures that the maximum number of people can be vaccinated in the shortest amount of time. The plan also makes the process as simple as possible for staff to be vaccinated and is organized to allow most K-12 staff in a county to be vaccinated within seven days of their assigned vaccination start date.

PANDEMIC IMPACTS ON K-12 STUDENTS

Ohio has prioritized getting K-12 students back in schools by March 1 because many adolescents’ social-emotional and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic.

“We know some of our students have not been in the classroom in months – it’s taking its toll,” said Governor DeWine. “For some, remote learning works, for others, it doesn’t. We are in danger of too many kids struggling for too long if they don’t get back to school in person.”

“School is community for our youth,” said Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director Lori Criss. “It benefits kids so much more than academic content. It’s the social and emotional connections that kids feel with friends, classmates, extra-curriculars, teachers, and more.”

According to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the change of routine and the constant uncertainty of the pandemic produces anxiety, and the disconnection from learning, emotional, and social supports can lead to depression. In addition, missed significant life events like graduations, proms, art performances, science competitions, sports, and more can result in grief.

Families and friends should reach out for help if a young person is:

talking about feeling hopeless;
worrying about being a burden;
feeling like there’s no reason to live;
using drugs, alcohol or engaging in other risky behaviors;
struggling with school;
disconnecting from family and friends.

Trained counselors with Ohio’s CareLine are available 24/7 at 1-800-720-9616. They can help with a crisis, provide guidance, and connect callers to help in the community.

OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY SYSTEM:

This week’s Ohio Public Health Advisory System map shows little change. Hamilton County is no longer listed as a Level 4 (Purple) Public Emergency, but the rest of the state remains the same as last week. A county-by-county breakdown outlining the presence of COVID-19 in all of Ohio’s 88 counties can be found on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System’s website.

CURRENT CASE DATA

In total, there are 883,716 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported in Ohio and 11,006 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 45,786 people have been hospitalized throughout the pandemic, including 6,644 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.

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Ross County Health District Moves Vaccination Clinic to Ohio University – Chillicothe Shoemaker Center

January 28, 2021 Mike Smith 2 Comments

Presented by McDonald’s, I’m Lovin It!

The Ross County Health District is moving the vaccination clinic for second and first doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine to Ohio University – Chillicothe’s Shoemaker Center. This clinic is by appointment only.

Shoemaker Center allows the health district to have multiple vaccination stations and a designated socially distanced observation area for after the vaccine has been administered. This space will be beneficial once they start to vaccinate the general population and when more vaccine is available to the county.

The health district is currently able to schedule those in the 75 and older age group. Those in Ross County who are 70 and older will be able to receive vaccine starting week of February 1st, 2021.

Ohioans 65 years of age and older will be able to receive vaccine starting the week of February 8, 2021.

Just because a new age group begins does not mean that the previous age group is vaccinated. There are more providers in the area that community members can contact to schedule an appointment such as Adena, Kroger Pharmacy, Allen’s Pharmacy and Hopewell Health Centers.

RCHD is working through a prioritized registration list and contacting individuals to schedule their appointment with RCHD. If you receive an appointment through us that means we will have vaccine available when you come in to the clinic. Employees of K-12 schools will receive information on the vaccine and registration from their school administrators.

The number of vaccinations RCHD can administer depends heavily on the amount of vaccine received by the state. Please email the health district at information@ rosscountyhealth.org if you have any questions.

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Fayette Memorial Hospital Board Votes To Join Adena Health

January 28, 2021 Mike Smith

Presented by Hometown Motors, Inc.

In a unanimous vote, the Fayette County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees adopted a motion to move forward with a plan for Adena Health System to acquire the 25-bed critical access hospital.

“Our board felt so strongly that Adena Health System was the right fit for this community and for this hospital that we reengaged both Adena and the County Commissioners a few months ago to see if we could reach an agreement for Adena to acquire our facility,” said FCMH Board of Trustees President Brian Ream.

“As a board, we believed it was in the best interest of the hospital to find a partner that could strengthen our operational foundation while protecting the delivery of high quality care in our community and ensuring ongoing work for our employees,” said Ream. “Adena has demonstrated their dedication to Fayette County and FCMH for several years through our clinical affiliation agreement. It seems only natural that acquisition and full membership in the Adena Health System would be the next step.”

Pending agreement of Fayette County Commissioners and Adena Health System Board of Trustees, Adena would begin a management agreement of FCMH operations on February 15, with targeted completion of the transaction April 1st, making Adena Fayette Medical Center the fourth hospital in its system.

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Health Order Signed Reducing Curfew by One Hour

January 28, 2021 Dan Ramey

Presented by McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced that Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed a health order pushing back the statewide curfew one hour, changing the start time of the curfew to 11 p.m. The new hours begin January 28, 2021 at 12:01 p.m. and lasts through February 11, 2021, at 12:01 p.m. The change is being made because Ohio hospitalizations for COVID-19 have remained below 3500 for seven consecutive days.

Specifications in this order include:

Individuals within the state must stay at a place of residence during the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. except for obtaining necessary food, medical care, or social services or providing care for others.
- This order doesn’t apply to those that are homeless. Individuals whose residences are unsafe or become unsafe, such as victims of domestic violence, are encouraged to leave their homes and stay at a safe, alternative location.
- The order does not apply to religious observances and First Amendment protected speech including activity by the media.
The order permits travel into or out of the state and permits travel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children according to a custody agreement, or to obtain fuel.

Individuals are permitted to leave a place of residence during the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. for the following essential activities:

Engaging in activities essential to their health and safety or the health and safety of those in their households or people who are unable to or should not leave their homes, including pets. Activities can include but are not limited to seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or medication, or visiting a health care professional including hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and pharmacies.
To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or members of their household who are unable or should not leave their home, to deliver those services or supplies to others. Examples of those include but are not limited to, obtaining groceries and food. Food and beverages may be obtained only for consumption off-premises, through such means as delivery, drive-through, curbside pickup and carryout.
To obtain necessary social services.
To go to work, including volunteer work.
To take care of or transport a family member, friend, or pet in their household or another household.
To perform or obtain government services.