“This increased risk alert level is another reminder that while we are all experiencing COVID-fatigue and missing personal interaction with friends and extended family, the community at large needs to be more diligent in our mask wearing and social distancing." Tom Quade
Geauga County, along with 37 other counties in Ohio, is at a level three public emergency, after an Oct. 22 update to the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, a level three (red) status indicates very high exposure and spread of the novel coronavirus. At level three, ODH indicates Ohioans should limit activities as much as possible.
Geauga Public Health issued a press release announcing the new risk-level designation, and informing the public GPH continues to work closely with Geauga County schools in their response to the risk level.
“The fact that the county has risen to red on the state’s risk advisory system does not automatically mean changes are needed within the schools, but the community as a whole should step up prevention efforts,” Geauga Public Health Commissioner Tom Quade said.
GPH said the county has triggered five of the seven metrics ODH uses to determine risk levels for transmission of the virus. The incidence rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and a sustained increase in new cases, were the two newest triggers since last week’s risk-level status update.
Quade said the increase in cases is not connected to in-school learning in county schools, but to an increase in social interactions in the community at large. He added he has asked local school leaders to consider changes to extracurricular activities which might present greater risk of transmission than others, which would then pose a threat to continued in-school instruction.
While the county’s move to the red level has triggered further communication with the superintendents and principals, Quade said, it does not automatically trigger a need to shift to remote-only education.
“Some schools or districts may choose to go remote based on their specific experience with cases and resources. We have very good working relationships and excellent communication, so those kinds of decisions are made jointly,” he said.
The increased risk level does not automatically trigger changes to in-school learning, but Quade said the population as a whole needs to exercise more caution due to the increase in community spread.
“This increased risk alert level is another reminder that while we are all experiencing COVID-fatigue and missing personal interaction with friends and extended family, the community at large needs to be more diligent in our mask wearing and social distancing,” he said, adding not everyone can simply walk away from those who choose not to follow the public health guidance.
“We have workers who we described as essential and heroes back in the early months of the pandemic who do not have the freedom to simply walk away from those who are choosing to engage in behaviors that threaten their health,” Quade said. “We are entering the season of Thanksgiving when we reflect on how much our family and friends mean to us. It’s a good time to remember that we are all in this together and the choices we make, regardless of our personal opinions, have consequences for others outside our own social circle of friends and family.”
October 23, 2020 at 02:02AM
https://www.geaugamapleleaf.com/news/geauga-county-moves-to-level-3-covid-risk-alert/
Geauga Moves to Red on COVID Risk Alert - Geauga Maple Leaf
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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