What the county’s new COVID-19 designation means for you and your family
Hamilton County hit Ohio’s hottest designation on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic heat map last week. So now what? Officially, the state’s Level 4 Purple Fact Sheet advises, “Residents should only leave home for supplies and services.” However, that’s not a mandate.
Thursday was the first time that Hamilton County turned Purple since the state developed the COVID-19 alert system midsummer last year, and it’s the only county currently in Purple status. That’s the highest level of the Ohio Public Health Advisory System’s alerts and occurs when a county meets six of seven COVID-19-spread indicators for at least two straight weeks. The system starts with Yellow, for active exposure and spread, and advances to Orange, Red and Purple as the virus infects more people.
Franklin County was the first county to hit Purple status, in mid-November. Hamilton County is the first county in Purple since Dec. 17. Clermont County is currently on the watch list, which means that it could move from Red to Purple soon, depending on COVID-19’s spread.
Hamilton County will remain in Purple until it meets fewer than six indicators for two consecutive weeks. The state said in a news release that “all 88 counties have a level of spread that is at least three times more than what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers high incidence.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said on his Twitter account: “We’re not necessarily seeing a dramatic surge after Christmas and the New Year, but there is a bit of an upswing in our cases. Reflecting this, Hamilton County is moving to purple this week.”
For the 14-day period ending Jan. 12, the Hamilton County registered 6,294 COVID-19 cases, or 769.9 for every 100,000 people. The only indicator that the county missed hitting was the “Hospitalization Trajectory increases over a 5-day period.”
Ohio entered Phase 1B Vaccinations this week for those 80 and older. The state said vaccines are expected to be delivered Monday through Wednesday, with providers administering the shots the day after receipt. Vaccines must be administered within seven days. DeWine said Thursday that providers in the state are close to completing Phase 1A, which is the administration of vaccines in skilled nursing facilities.
DeWine said there’s a scarcity of vaccines, so there aren’t enough for everyone 80 and up this week. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted noted that there are 420,000 in that age group, and 100,000 vaccines will be available this week.
However, the state’s guidelines will ensure that those in an earlier phase who could not get the vaccine will continue to be vaccinated as the next priority group starts.
“I want to assure everybody that 65 years of age and older will remain the priority,” DeWine said. “We know it’s going to take a while.”
As Hamilton County works to contain the virus and move out of Purple status, residents are reminded by the state and CDC to take precautions:
· Stay home except for essential needs, especially if you feel vulnerable to the virus.
· If you go out, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
· If you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
· When in public spaces, wear a mask over your nose and mouth to protect yourself and others.
· Clean and disinfect surfaces.
· Stay six feet away from others—that’s about two arm lengths.
· Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
· Monitor your health—do not go out if you feel ill.
