National Guard to assist at Coshocton Regional Medical Center as COVID-19 cases increase

COSHOCTON — Coshocton Regional Medical Center announced Monday it will receive an 11-member team of the Ohio National Guard to assist with the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Approximately 2,300 guard members have been activated by Gov. Mike DeWine to assist Ohio’s hospitals as COVID-19 activity increases across the state.

“We thank Gov. DeWine for his timely response to the health care staffing challenges across Ohio and are very appreciative of the assistance we will be receiving from the National Guard to help maintain our hospital operations while we continue to manage this current wave of COVID-19,” said CRMC CEO Stephanie Conn in a press release. “While CRMC has been maintaining our hospital services through these recent COVID-19 waves, the assistance provided by the OHNG will allow us to augment our current staffing."

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National Guard members will provide non-clinical assistance for two to three weeks in departments such as dietary and environmental services. Orientation is to start Tuesday.

The team previously assisted at the Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. As COVID-19 activity has decreased in Northern Ohio, guard members have relocated to Zones 2 and 3, where COVID-19 activity remains high.

CRMC remains committed to providing quality, safe care and the continuing good health of the community, the press release stated. It continues to monitor the increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide and remain prepared to care for patients.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is encouraged to call the nurse hotline at 740-623-4019 or visit Urgent Care at 406 S. 15th St. Only symptomatic patients will be tested for COVID-19 at this time. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should go to the emergency department of the hospital or call 911.

The Ohio Department of Health lists Coshocton County with 697 positive cases of COVID-19 in the past two weeks with 11 hospitalizations and no deaths. The majority, 476, were those younger than 50. The county's vaccination rate is just over 40%, or 14,886 residents. This includes more than half of those older than 50.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: COVID-19: National Guard to assist at Coshocton Regional Medical Center