ASHLAND — The Ashland County Health Department (ACHD) is reporting the 13th and 14th positive laboratory test results for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Ashland County residents, according to a press release issued Thursday by Ashland County Health Department’s public information officer Jill Hartson.
The public health investigation is ongoing with ACHD conducting contact tracing. Individuals who were in close contact with the confirmed case will be notified and given further instructions.
“The health department expects to see a continued increase in the number of positive cases in Ashland, especially as the weather improves and hospitals and outpatient clinics order COVID-19 testing for individuals prior to surgery,” ACHD health commissioner Heather Reffett said. “It was originally projected that the State of Ohio will see its peak in mid-May, and this may very well prove to be accurate.
“I believe that the county’s low number of cases can be attributed to our residents having done a great job of staying home and socially distancing, the vast majority of our local businesses put in place protective measures for their employees and customers, and the health department focusing its response efforts on contact tracing and the isolation and quarantine of individuals to reduce the spread.”
The press release urges individuals to protect themselves, and others, from COVID-19 by doing the following: practice social distancing, wear a face covering, stay home when sick, disinfect frequently touched surfaces and wash hands often.
To minimize the risk of infecting healthcare workers, individuals should call ahead before seeking medical care to discuss symptoms.
According to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), COVID-19 symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, diarrhea, vomiting, conjunctivitis, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
ACHD is currently monitoring 123 individuals who had a known exposure to COVID-19. Since the first positive COVID-19 case was identified in Ashland, the ACHD has monitored a total of 838 individuals, of which there were individuals experiencing varying levels of symptoms from mild to severe.
Additional information is available at the ODH website, www.coronavirus.ohio.gov. ODH also staffs a Call Center 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
The following is a history of the number of confirmed laboratory cases of COVID-19 in Ashland, Ohio:
- Case number 1 was reported on March 18, 2020.
- Case number 2 was reported on March 27, 2020.
- Case number 3 was reported on April 2, 2020.
- Case number 4 was reported on April 9, 2020.
- Case number 5 was reported on April 10, 2020.
- Case number 6 was reported on April 26, 2020.
- Case number 7 was reported on April 27, 2020.
- Case number 8 was reported on April 30, 2020.
- Case number 9 was reported on May 1, 2020.
- Case number 10 was reported on May, 4, 2020.
- Case number 11 was reported on May 6, 2020.
- Case number 12 was reported on May 6, 2020.
