** Due to COVID-19, all FCPH services are currently being offered by appointment only. Call 740-335-5910 to make an appointment.**
COVID-19 information, updates, and question/complaint form can be found here.
A sustained increase in the number of Fayette County residents seeking medical care for symptoms of COVID-19 and a sustained rise in the number of new cases has resulted in Fayette County being moved to a Level 3 / Red Alert in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System (OPHAS). Governor DeWine announced the change in today’s press conference.
According to OPHAS risk level guidelines, this indicates that Fayette County currently has very high exposure and spread. Residents should limit activities as much as possible and follow all current health orders.
“Since the alert system was put into place, Fayette County has alternated between yellow (5 weeks) and orange (9 weeks). At that point, the indicators that were triggered were due to the number of new cases and the level of community spread,” said Leigh Cannon, deputy health commissioner at Fayette County Public Health (FCPH). “Now we are seeing more people seeking medical care, and more hospitalizations.”
“In addition to our current outbreak at Fayette Christian School, we have been able to link numerous cases to large family gatherings like funerals, weddings, and church events. It is very important to avoid any large gatherings or crowds of any kind,” Cannon said. “Due to the rapid spread in our community, I urge everyone to stay home. Stay with only your household members when you are not at work or school or running necessary errands. Limit any other exposures the best that you can, practice social distancing and please wear a mask when out in public.”
“We as a community can reverse this situation and start trending back toward yellow but we need EVERYONE to take personal responsibility to protect each other TODAY! Lives are being dominated by this virus. It really saddens me to know that we are monitoring some very sick people right now, and we are seeing people we know and care about being admitted to the hospital. Our hospitalized cases are not able to have any visitors, and their loved ones are devastated by this separation. This is not a game. This is not a hoax. This is REAL and it is here right now and we have to do better! For one moment put yourself in the shoes of those so heavily affected by this virus! Compassion and kindness for others can go a long way. Help us get Fayette County back to YELLOW! We all have the ability and responsibility to protect each other!”
Fayette County triggered four out of seven indicators on OPHAS. The indicators triggered were:
▪ New cases per capita (290.9 cases per 100,000 residents)
▪ Sustained increase in new cases (.7 average cases on 9/21 to 7.3 on 10/
▪ Proportion of cases not in a congregate setting
▪ Sustained increase in outpatient visits (1.1 average visits on 10/1 to 2.4 on 10/6) In addition, as reported previously, there have been 83 new cases reported in the last 2 weeks.
Health department staff are working on contact tracing.
Cannon urged everyone to continue to avoid crowded areas, keep six feet between you and others, wear masks in public places, wash hands frequently, clean high touch surfaces often, and stay home if feeling sick. Individuals at high risk for severe complications and their families should continue to take extra precautions.
Reports
- FCPH Annual Report
- Communicable Disease Report
- Community Health Improvement Plan
- Community Health Assessment
Latest Updates
Sharing from Hamilton County Public Health. In a small rural community, our social "bubbles" overlap more than we may think they do. Please take this into consideration when choosing which social gatherings you will attend, especially if your bubble includes high-risk individuals who may suffer more severe complications from COVID-19.Help stop the spread of COVID-19: Think critically about social gatherings. The "bubble" you have is bigger than you think.
Columbus area news station NBC4 covered today’s COVID-19 pop-up testing and spoke with Deputy Health Commissioner Leigh Cannon about Fayette County’s efforts to slow the spread and get the numbers down. To learn more, please see the video of their coverage.
For those who want to be tested but were unable to make it today, there will be one more pop-up test site held on Monday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.
More information will be available later this week.
With cases on the rise, Fayette County offers free COVID-19 testing
www.nbc4i.com
With cases on the rise, Fayette County offers free COVID-19 testingCOVID-19 and the flu share many symptoms. Two symptoms that often (but not always) occur with COVID-19 are loss of taste and / or loss of smell. Although flu symptoms usually appear 1-4 days after infection, it can take up to 14 days after contact with an infected person for COVID-19 symptoms to appear. If you are sick and you are not sure if it is COVID-19 or the flu, talk to your doctor to determine if you need to be tested.
Need a flu shot? Call 740-335-5910. FCPH is offering the flu vaccine by appointment only, Monday through Friday.
FCPH is reporting the following changes for today's COVID-19 update. This is a 3 day total.
-19 new cases (17 confirmed, 2 probable)
-27 recoveries (24 confirmed, 3 probable)
-There are currently 16 hospitalizations. Due to the rapid nature of patients being admitted and released, we are reporting hospitalized as current and cumulative instead of new and released. Thanks for understanding.
Please continue to keep your social circle small and stay home if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or if you are sick.
If you have symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19, please stay home until you get your test results.
As always, follow these steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
-Wash your hands
-Wear a mask
-Stay 6 feet from others
-Clean high touch surfaces frequently
The next update will be Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
Was 2 added to hospitalized since last report ?
A step in the right direction!
If it drops in the next 2 weeks I'd be shocked
Looks like the total number is going down
Wait and see what happens from the free testing at the fairgrounds.
The COVID-19 tests being done at the Fayette County fairgrounds today are the quick nasal swabs. Testing will take place until 2 p.m. today. Please enter the fairgrounds on Leesburg Avenue.
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