Daily Archives: April 15, 2021

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COVID-19 Variants Create More Positive Cases In Ohio

Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc.

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

VARIANT SPREAD

Governor DeWine announced that more than 36 percent of Ohioans have now received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, however, Ohio’s statewide case incidence number has reached 200 cases per 100,000 people as compared to 144 cases per 100,000 people four weeks ago. There are currently more than 1,300 COVID-positive patients in Ohio’s hospitals.

“What we’re seeing in Ohio is a strong variant that is multiplying very quickly and is more contagious than the virus we’ve seen in the past, but we have hope, and hope is the vaccine,” said Governor DeWine. “Vaccination is how we get out of this.”  

The majority of the counties with the highest incidence of cases in Ohio are in the northern region of the state which is seeing a high level of variant cases. Lucas County is currently seeing the highest occurrence of cases with 341.1 cases per 100,000 county residents. 

Franklin County increased to Alert Level 4 (purple) on Ohio Public Health Advisory System due to a sustained increase in COVID-related emergency room visits, outpatient visits, and hospital admissions.

There was some good news in our region, as Fayette County was dropped to Yellow Level 1 on the statewide COVID-19 Color Alert Map.

VACCINATION OPPORTUNITIES 

There are a significant number of vaccine providers across the state with open vaccination appointments for this week and next week. Several sites are also accepting walk-up appointments.

Visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to look for open appointments or call 833-4-ASK-ODH to book an appointment over the phone. 

INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER TOOLKIT

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) today announced the launch of the Inclusive Employer Toolkit designed to help employers recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities and foster an inclusive workplace.

Recruitment and retention are challenges for many businesses. Individuals with disabilities represent a talent pool that is often hidden and underutilized. The Inclusive Employer Toolkit, which can be used in its entirety or by section, is a guide to creating an inclusive workplace and accessing this hidden pool of talent.

“Ohioans with disabilities make excellent employees because of their loyalty and drive to be successful,” said Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted. “Creating an inclusive work environment and leveraging this untapped talent pool gives companies a competitive edge, and the new OOD Employer Toolkit can help give businesses the tools they need to get started.”

The Toolkit includes four main topics:

  1. Building the Business Case – benefitting from hiring people with disabilities
  2. Inclusive Workplace – making the workplace inclusive of everyone
  3. Recruiting, Hiring, and Supporting Employees – getting access to a greater pool of talent
  4. Workplace Accommodations – making small changes can make a big difference

CASE DATA/VACCINE INFORMATION

In-depth COVID-19 data for Ohio: coronavirus.ohio.gov. 

Ohio’s central scheduling system: gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov

Ohio mass vaccination information: coronavirus.ohio.gov/massvaccinationclinics

All vaccine providers: vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov

More vaccine information: coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine

Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page. 

For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

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V.A. Medical Center Reopens Gym For Veterans Use

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

(CHILLICOTHE)— Effective Monday, April 19, 2021, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center will re-open the gymnasium, building 247, to Veterans.  The gym will be open during the following times.  The gym will be sanitized every two hours per public health measures.

Monday – Friday

7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Prior to using the gym, Veterans must have a consult for medical clearance from their Primary Care Provider.  Consults older than 1 year must also be renewed prior to use of the gym.  Once the consult is received, Recreation Therapy Staff will contact the Veteran. 

Although the gym will be open, the pool and shower facilities will remain closed until further notice due to COVID related safety precautions. If public health or facility operational conditions change, the gym may be closed on short notice.

Gym occupancy will be limited to 10 Veterans at a time and visits may be limited to one hour depending on utilization demand.  Veterans must undergo screening for COVID related symptoms and fever before entering the gym and must properly wear an appropriate face mask/covering (over both the nose and mouth) at all times.

Contact Recreation Therapy, at 740-773-1141, extension 7813, for more information, or contact your primary care provider to request a consult to use the gym.

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Prospect League Conference & Division Names Announced

Presented By Atomic Speedway

(ELKVILLE, Illinois) – The Prospect League announced the names of its newly-formed conferences and realigned divisions ahead of the collegiate wood-bat circuit’s 12th season, which begins Thursday, May 27.

The 16-team league will be split into two conferences, East and West, and each conference will contain two divisions. The Ohio River Valley Division and the Wabash River Division make up the East, while the West’s divisions are the Great River Division and the Prairie Land Division.

The league recently held its annual Spring Prospect League Meetings, where the names were approved by the Board of Directors, comprised of a representative from each team.

“With the simple geographic monikers for the conferences, our Directors wanted to be more creative and descriptive with the division names,” said Prospect League Commissioner Dennis Bastien. “So, we’ve got three US waterways and a farm land represented – proudly Americana and a natural fit for our current structure.”

The division names were partly inspired by a recent “Name the Conferences” contest run by the Prospect League that received several hundred recommendations from fans from across the country. Five winners have been identified who will receive a Prospect League Privilege Pass good for free admission for two to any Prospect League game in 2021 and other prizes.

EAST CONFERENCE 

(Ohio River Valley Division)    

Champion City Kings,  Chillicothe Paints,  Johnstown Mill Rats, West Virginia Miners 

(Wabash River Division)

Danville Dans, Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, REX Lafayette Aviators

WEST CONFERENCE

(Great River Division)

Burlington Bees, Clinton LumberKings, Normal CornBelters, Quincy Gems 

(Prairie Land Division)

Alton River Dragons, Cape Catfish, O’Fallon Hoots, Springfield Sliders

The Prospect League is an elite, collegiate wood-bat summer baseball league, providing college players with the opportunity to compete in a minor-league setting with high-level competition. The League’s members provide their communities with quality baseball and affordable, family-friendly entertainment.

Founded in 2009 after merging with the Central Illinois Collegiate League, the Prospect League is made up of 16 teams competing in a seven-state region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For more information, please visit www.prospectleague.com.

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Kayakers And Boaters Urged To Wear Life Jackets

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

(COLUMBUS) – A morning safety inspection may have saved a woman’s life on the Maumee River.  Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officer Sergeant Sarah Genzman would not allow a kayak on the water when she discovered there was no life jacket on board. That kayak capsized a few hours later, but the woman inside was wearing a life jacket and was able to float into safe hands because of the inspection.
 
“It is our duty to make sure anyone heading out onto the water is safe and prepared,” ODNR Officer Sergeant Sarah Genzman said. “If that one inspection made someone grab a life-saving tool like a life jacket, then I’m doing my job. No one should go out on the water without the proper gear to keep them safe.”
 
Sgt. Genzman was patrolling the river when she saw the kayak capsize. A fisherman wading in the river was able to save the woman and bring her to shore. Sgt. Genzman was there to provide blankets for warmth. The woman who went back to get a life jacket after the inspection said she believes it saved her life.
 
ODNR is reminding Ohioans that a properly fitted life jacket will keep a person’s airway out of the water, avoiding the large possibility of triggering an uncontrollable gasping reflex. Heart rate and blood pressure will surge dramatically, increasing the risk for cardiac arrest. The victim may hyperventilate and find it difficult to get air into the lungs.
 
“Dangerous situations can be avoided by wearing a life jacket and understanding the dangers associated with cold water,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “With a little planning and knowledge, you can safely paddle, fish, and hunt along Ohio’s waterways in spring.”
 
ODNR also wants Ohioans to keep in mind that warmer spring weather does not mean warmer water. Paddlers, anglers, hunters, and swimmers should take precautions along waterways at this time of year.
 
Cold water will cool down a body 25 times faster than cold air of the same temperature. Total immersion in cold water is very painful, with extremities rapidly becoming numb. Disoriented victims can quickly panic as they lose coordination of their limbs. These combined reactions may cause a quick drowning.
 
You can learn more about the hazards of cold water here. ODNR also provides more information on staying safe in the water in this section of our website.

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Ohio Assists Buckeye Lake Against Algae Blooms

Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc.

(COLUMBUS) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz have announced details of a new H2Ohio wetland project that will help prevent harmful algal blooms on Buckeye Lake.

The Brooks Park Wetland Creation and Water Quality Initiative will create a wetland complex along Murphy’s Run, a tributary located to the south of the lake, to filter out excess nutrients and sediment runoff in stormwater before the pollutants enter Buckeye Lake and contribute to the growth of toxic algae.  

“Buckeye Lake has been regularly experiencing algal blooms since 2010, the result of agricultural nutrient runoff and other pollutants freely entering the water for decades,” said Governor DeWine. “Reversing this damage will take time, but we must begin implementing long-term solutions now so that we can enjoy the lake in the future.” 

This H2Ohio project will redirect Murphy’s Run through a newly constructed wetland that will filter out excess fertilizer nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen before they flow into Buckeye Lake. A second wetland will be created nearby to trap additional contaminants that flow into the area when water levels rise during storms. To stop pollutant-carrying sediment from traveling down Murphy’s Run and into the lake, an in-stream silt trap will also be constructed as a component of the project 

In total, the project is expected to prevent up to 1,620 pounds of nitrogen, 784 pounds of phosphorus, and 437 tons of sediment from entering Buckeye Lake each year. 

“The water quality problems Buckeye Lake has seen in the past are good reminders of why H2Ohio is so important on a statewide level,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz.   “We must address the underlying issues that are impacting water quality if we are going to ensure that Ohioans have access to good clean water.” 

With the assistance of ODNR’s Division of Parks and Watercraft, this 3-acre H2Ohio project is expected to be complete sometime in the summer of 2021.  The estimated cost is $700,000.  

The Brooks Park Wetland Creation and Water Quality Initiative is one of several local and state initiatives on Buckeye Lake that are working to reduce algal bloom severity, including ODNR’s annual dredging of the lake to remove nutrient-rich sediment that has settled in the water.  

The project joins dozens of other H2Ohio wetland projects underway right now including the Oakwoods Nature Preserve East and Oakwoods Nature Preserve West in Hancock County, Redhorse Bend Preserve in Sandusky County, the Forder Bridge Project in Paulding County, the Fruth Wetland Nature Preserve in Seneca County, the St. Joseph Confluence Reconnection in Williams County, the Van Order Wetland and Forest Restoration in Henry County, the wetland area east of the Andreoff Wildlife Area in Wyandot County, and Sandusky Headwaters Preserve in Crawford County.  

H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term.

H2Ohio focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring, and enhancing wetlands, and improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. 

For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, please visit h2.ohio.gov. 

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National Donate Life Month

Presented By McDonalds, I’m Lovin’ It!

(Donate Life.Net) — National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.

UPDATE: DLA National Donate Life Month COVID-19 response:

With the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the incredible speed at which things are changing around us, Donate Life America is encouraging the public and the donation and transplantation community to cancel all in-person events for National Donate Life Month (April). The priority is the safety and health of both the public and professional Donate Life communities. In accordance with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this action to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Donate Life America will be taking an online approach for April Donate Life Month observances. You are being asked to join in on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and DonateLife.net to help honor donors, recipients, and their families and caregivers. There will also be an effort in recognizing the clinical teams continuing their dedicated work during this time to help honor the gift of donation and save the lives of those waiting for a second chance at life.

National Donate Life Month 2021: Garden of Life

Based on the positive feedback from the community regarding the 2020 theme and in light of the impact of COVID-19, DLA will be continuing with the “Garden of Life” theme for National Donate Life Month 2021.

Donate Life America was inspired by the springtime scene of a garden. A garden and the insects within in it serve as symbols of hope, courage and transformed life — themes repeatedly found within the donation and transplantation journey.

The Donate Life garden depicts an ecosystem of plants, insects, and other components working together to form an interconnected living system. Similarly, we each have the potential to nurture and enrich our communities through organ, eye and tissue donation. This National Donate Life Month, we ask you to be a part of this lifesaving and healing garden by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor; becoming educated about living donation; and championing the Donate Life cause.