Season for sickness: Health department urges precautions against respiratory illnesses

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·3 min read

DOVER ‒ Levels of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, flu and RSV remain high in Tuscarawas County, according to the latest data from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"While local case reports have decreased slightly over the past week, illness activity remains high and case numbers tend to fluctuate week to week during this time of year when respiratory illnesses are more prevalent," said Jennifer Demuth, director of health promotion and community relations for the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

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As of Jan. 19, the health department was reporting 49 new cases of COVID-19 in Tuscarawas County residents between 2 p.m. Jan. 11 and 2 p.m. Jan. 18, compared to 97 cases the previous week. Also, the CDC was reporting a COVID-19 hospitalization rate of 3.7 per 100,000 Tuscarawas County residents for the week of Jan. 7-Jan. 13, down from 7.5 the previous week.

The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio decreased with 9,428 new cases reported on Jan. 18, compared to 12,481 cases reported by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) the previous week. Also, ODH's Bureau of Vital Statistics is reporting one additional COVID-19 related death in a Tuscarawas County resident reported between Jan. 11 and Jan. 18. Tuscarawas County has a cumulative total number of 559 COVID-19 related deaths.

Continue to take precautions

"Here at the Tuscarawas County Health Department, we encourage county residents to continue taking precautions to prevent the spread of illness by washing their hands, covering their coughs and staying home if they are sick," Demuth said. "If a person must go out in public while experiencing symptoms, we encourage them to keep distanced from others and consider wearing a mask.

"Also, it’s not too late to get a flu shot or updated COVID-19 vaccine to help prevent severe forms of illness. Call the Tuscarawas County Health Department at 330-343-5555, ext. 1810 to schedule a vaccine appointment."

The health department also offers free drive-up, combined COVID-19 and flu testing by appointment Monday through Thursday each week. One test can determine if a person has COVID-19, Flu A, Flu B, or all three illnesses.

"Getting tested is helpful for persons who are in the first few days of illness because they can contact their medical providers to see if they qualify for prescription anti-viral medications that can help reduce the severity of flu and/or COVID-19 illness," she said.

While supplies last, the health department also has free COVID-19 home antigen test kits available for pick-up in the lobby with a limit of two test kits per person. The lobby is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Cases of respiratory illness remain high in Tuscarawas County