The information on the Novel (new) Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is changing rapidly day by day, and officials at Greene County Public Health have been monitoring the situation since the beginning. Officials are asking the community to prepare for this virus using the guidance provided by public health officials locally and at the state and federal levels. It is important to get the facts from reliable sources, stay alert and remain calm, as to date, there have been no confirmed cases in Ohio.
An informational meeting was held on Friday, March 6, 2020, for many of our community partners including local emergency responders (fire, police, EMS), hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools and universities, and other agencies to share the latest updates and what is being done to prepare our county in the event we get a case here.
Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
ODH has information on their website https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/resources/ that provides important guidance for K-12 schools, employers and businesses, long-term care facilities, and faith-based organizations. There is also a call center open seven days a week from 9:00am – 8:00pm for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5636).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC provides a wealth of information, including what you should know about the virus, how it spreads, and various travel restrictions and recommendations on their website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/index.html.
Greene County Public Health (GCPH)
The website for GCPH includes a page specifically for information related to COVID-19 at http://healthalert.gcph.info/public_alerts/coronavirus. Greene County Public Health’s social media platforms, including Facebook www.facebook.com/greenecoph, Twitter www.twitter.com/greenecoph and Instagram www.instagram.com/greenecoph are also sharing the latest information on COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to follow these outlets to stay updated.
Prevention Measures
Steps to take to remain healthy include the following items:
- Stay home when you are sick
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Get plenty of rest and eat right
- Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water; dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth or eyes with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
- Clean and disinfect “high touch” surfaces, i.e. doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, etc.
- Call before visiting your doctor
- Practice good hygiene habits
- Avoid travel to areas with high occurrences of COVID-19
For more information on COVID-19, call ODH’s call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH or for more information on Greene County Public Health, visit the website at www.gcph.info or call 937-374-5600.
https://www.beavercreektownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/497/GermsandViruses85by11_march10
https://www.beavercreektownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/498/Coronavirus-Flyer-Final-1
https://www.beavercreektownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/499/Mass-Gathering-Guidance-3-3-2020