Health District has COVID-19 update

VW independent/submitted information

As of April 16, the Van Wert County General Health District, reports two confirmed cases, two recovered cases, 11 pending, and 26 negatives. When a confirmed case is hospitalized, this number will also be included in the statistics. 

The numbers reported daily are cumulative, except for hospitalizations, which the Health District reports as the total number of people currently hospitalized with a confirmed case of COVID-19. To explain further, when a hospitalized individual is discharged, that person is removed from the hospitalization total. They do remain in the positive total count, however. Also, when a person recovers, they are listed as recovered, but are not removed from the confirmed cases total. 

This method maintains consistency with how confirmed cases are reported on the state and national levels. An individual will be reported as recovered from COVID-19 when that individual is released from isolation by VWCGHD. An individual who has been placed into isolation due to infection with COVID-19 is released from quarantine when the following criteria are met: 

• At least seven days have passed since the onset of symptoms.
• The person has been fever-free for at least 72 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.
• Respiratory symptoms have improved.

Today, Ohio reported 8,239 confirmed cases, 2,331 hospitalizations and 373 deaths. This information is updated daily at 2 p.m. and can be found at http://coronavirus.ohio.gov.  

VWCGHD stresses the importance to limit all non-essential activities. If you have to be out, you need to maintain at least 6 feet distance between each other. If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they are required to provide a list of their close contacts for 48 hours prior to the beginning of symptoms. The definition of a close contact, as provided by the state, is a person that you have been within 6 feet of for more than 10 minutes. 

For those with questions about COVID-19, contact the Van Wert County General Health District at 419.238.0808. For information on COVID-19, including ways people can prepare and help protect the health of themselves and others, go to the website above or call 833.427.5634. Information and resources are also available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.coronavirus.gov.