NEW Location & NEW Day for Testing: Drive thru testing for current COVID-19 illness (with or without symptoms) is now being offered
Tuesdays from 9a-1p
Wednesdays from Noon-4p
Thursdays from Noon-4p (NEW!)
The location for all days has moved to the Union County Health Department, 940 London Ave, Marysville (use the Greenwood Blvd entrance).
Registration is strongly encouraged due to demand. Drive ups will be welcome only as supplies allow. Registration can be done at https://llchc.org/covid19/ or by calling (614) 274-1455 (select option 1).
Testing is available to anyone who wants it, but recommended for those who have current COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to a positive case, or who are living in a group setting. A doctor’s order is not required for testing. Testing is free to uninsured individuals and covered by most insurances. The test is a diagnostic test for current infection, NOT an antibody test for past infection. The test is a painless nasal swab. Results are provided within 2-5 business days. This testing is provided by Lower Lights Christian Health Center in partnership with the Union County Health Department.
Individuals needing COVID-19 testing before a medical procedure should consult with the healthcare system providing the medical procedure.
Additional testing opportunities outside Union County are available through select CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart and community health center locations. A listing of testing locations in Ohio, including state sponsored Pop
Up testing events can be found at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/testing-ch-centers/.
Case Count: Currently, there are 5 Union County residents reported as actively ill (defined as a reported confirmed or probable case who is currently in isolation). In total, the Union County Health Department has received report of 78 cases of COVID-19 among Union County residents. 72 individuals are considered no longer infectious and have been released from isolation. 1 death has been reported. Overall, 58 lab confirmed cases and 20 probable cases per CDC definition have been reported. 53.8% of cases are male and 46.2% are female. The age range is <1 to 83 years with a median age of 42 and an average age of 40.7. Hospitalization has been required during illness for 7 individuals (2 currently hospitalized). Illness onset range has been between Jan. 13 to Jun. 29. 5 individuals have been asymptomatic. 41% of cumulative cases were community acquired (no identified exposure), 31% were contacts of a confirmed case, 11% were travel related, 9% were occupational exposure, and 8% were connected to a known outbreak.
ORW Update: The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is reporting four staff members at the Ohio Reformatory for Women have tested positive for COVID-19 (one has recovered). Three current inmates are in isolation and current inmate has recovered. No inmates are currently positive.
Long-Term Care: The Ohio Department of Health continues to report 0 cases among staff or residence of a long-term care facility within Union County. Several facilities have undergone COVID-19 testing privately or through the Ohio testing strike force teams.
School Guidance: Governor DeWine released school guidance for Ohio schools today. This guidance will focus on five basic principles as schools and families plan for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Assess Symptoms – Daily health checks of all staff and students are necessary. Students and staff who are ill must be sent home and prevented from coming to school. Schools. A COVID-19 testing strategy must also be developed.
- Wash & Sanitize Hands – Frequent handwashing and sanitizing must be part of the school day.
- Clean & Sanitize Shared Surfaces – Must allow for frequent and thorough cleaning practices.
- Social Distancing – Develop strategies and policies that encourage at least six feet of distance in all areas of the school environment.
- Face Covering Policy – A policy for staff and students must be developed and implemented. Staff are required to wear a face covering (unless they fall into a health or safety exemption or a face covering significantly interferes with the learning process). When a face covering significantly interferes with the learning process, a face shield can be used. Face covering for strongly recommended for students in third through twelfth grades.
Union County Health Commissioner continues to meet weekly with the superintendents of the public school districts to work through planning for the 2020-2021 school year. The new guidance, along with the innovation of each district, will continue to help move planning forward. We are grateful for the tireless hours put in by our public and private school partners to try and promote learning and health to the very best of their abilities.
County Level Public Health Advisory System: Governor DeWine shared today the rollout of the Public Health Advisory Alert System which provides COVID-19 health advisories at a county level. The Advisory Alerts will be publicized each Thursday based upon 7 critical indicators. Color alerts of yellow, orange, red and purple (from lowest to highest alert) will be issued for each county. These alerts will be used to help inform decisions by members of the public as well as local public health, government, schools, and businesses as we work to both protect health and support local economies. For more detail on each of the 7 current indicators being used to look at risk at a county level, go to https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/OPHASM/Summary-Alert-Indicators.pdf.
