CLEVELAND — Local politicians have released comments about the three people that were diagnosed with coronavirus in Ohio.
“Governor DeWine just confirmed that three people in Cuyahoga County were diagnosed with coronavirus. They are the only cases diagnosed in Ohio so far. I would like to encourage everyone to be extra vigilant and take precautions to avoid spreading the virus in our communities. The Ohio Department of Health [ohiosenate.us5.list-manage.com] and the Centers for Disease Control [ohiosenate.us5.list-manage.com] have information about the best preventative measures on their websites. If you have more questions, ODH has activated a coronavirus hotline, which you can reach at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634)," said Minority Leader Kenny Yuko.
“As news develops, I am urging every person across Northern Ohio to stay calm and follow the instructions of the CDC as well as state and local health department. Emergency preparedness as our country faces this public health threat is of upmost importance. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of panic. I urge everyone to take commonsense precautions to prevent further spread of infection: wash your hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home when you are sick, and avoid touching your face," said Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
“As more cases are reported in the United States, and the virus has reached Ohio, it is crucial Ohioans have access to the best and most up to date information. It includes contact information for county health departments, the list of EPA-recommended disinfectants, tips from the CDC, and more. I recommend that anyone in the Seventh District concerned with the Coronavirus should visit my website for a complete overview of what to do and how to prevent the spread of the disease. Vigilance and appropriate habits of cleanliness can go a long way to avoiding a widespread outbreak. You can find this information and more at gibbs.house.gov/coronavirus-resources [gibbs.house.gov],"Congressman Bob Gibbs said.
“Congressman Ryan did not meet with any APAIC representatives nor did he attend their Washington, DC conference. Members of Congressman Ryan’s staff did meet with APAIC representatives on March 3, but we have been informed that the individual who tested positive was not among the group,” said a spokesperson from Congressman Ryan’s office.
“Today, the first three cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed in the state of Ohio, all of which were identified in Cuyahoga County. My thoughts are with the individuals and families impacted by COVID-19, and I am praying for their speedy recovery. As new details emerge regarding the impact of this disease on Ohioans, it is important for us to avoid panic, stay informed, and take basic precautions to keep the Northeast Ohio community healthy and safe," said Rep. Marcia Fudge.
“My first priority is keeping Ohioans safe and healthy. I just had a positive and reassuring conversation with Gov. DeWine and State Health Director Acton about the actions the state is taking to address the situation. My office will continue to work closely with the Governor and his team as we all continue to monitor the situation. We continue to encourage Ohioans, as the Governor has, to focus on science, not fearmongering and to reach out to their local public health department with any questions or concerns,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown.
“Jane and I hope all three Ohioans with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, make full and complete recoveries soon. My staff and I have been in constant contact with the governor’s office and state and local health officials and we will continue to monitor the situation. Last week, the president signed into law an $8.3 billion funding package that I was proud to support to ensure that our federal, state, and local agencies have the funds to help prevent, prepare, and mitigate the spread of the virus. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure Congress and the administration are doing everything possible to provide Ohio the resources it needs to keep our families safe," said Sen. Rob Portman.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
COVID-19/2019 Novel Coronavirus Overview from the CDC:
“2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV/COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).”
“When person-to-person spread has occurred with MERS and SARS, it is thought to have happened mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Spread of MERS and SARS between people has generally occurred between close contacts.”
From News 5 and affiliated news outlets:
News 5's Coronavirus continuing coverage page
How to prepare your family and pets for COVID-19
EPA releases list of approved disinfectants to use against COVID-19
How to protect yourself from coronavirus when flying
Symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus are fever and lower respiratory tract issues, such as cough and shortness of breath, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Travel
Anyone traveling internationally should review plans in advance of their trip, and check the CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Information Page for daily updates and travel alerts.
Click here for the CDC COVID-19 Travel Information Page
Practice Good Hygiene
The CCBH recommends the following good hygiene practices to prevent coronavirus, as well as the flu, colds and other illnesses:
- Sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow to keep germs from spreading
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water/use alcohol-based hand sanitizer in between
- Don’t share cups, spoons, forks, etc. with anyone
- Don’t make food for anyone if you are sick
- Don’t go to work or school if you are sick
- Visit a doctor, urgent care or emergency department if you are sick – don’t take chances
Please contact your medical provider with any questions.
Guidance for those with compromised immune systems
Click here for specific guidance from the CCBH for anyone at higher risk for becoming ill.
Additional Resources
Cuyahoga County: See the CCBH page on coronavirus here.
Ohio Department of Health:
Click here for the Ohio Department of Health’s Coronavirus information page.
It is updated daily at 2 p.m. with the current number of confirmed cases, persons under investigation and persons under investigation who tested negative for the disease.
As of Thursday afternoon, there are zero confirmed cases in Ohio, three persons under investigation in Ohio, seven persons who have tested negative for COVID-19, and a total of 255 people who were or are under health supervision since the novel coronavirus was first reported.
More resources from ODH:
Fact sheet
Prevention infographic
Resources and information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CCBH has created this list of coronavirus-related resources from the CDC:
Homepage for COVID-19 materials and information
Fact sheet – Chinese
Fact sheet – English
Fact sheet – Spanish
Guidance for businesses
Guidance for colleges and universities
Guidance for communities and mass gatherings
Guidance for healthcare facilities
Guidance for healthcare professionals
Guidance for people with elevated risk for illness
Guidance for pregnant women
Guidance for risk assessment
Guidance for schools
Guidance for travelers
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – Chinese
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – English
What you can do to stop the spread of COVID-19 – Spanish
If you are sick with COVID-19 – Chinese
If you are sick with COVID-19 – English
If you are sick with COVID-19 – Spanish
Preventing spread of COVID-19 at election/polling/voting locations
Prevention and treatment
Symptoms – overview
World Health Organization
Coronavirus information
Mythbusters – the truth about food, packages, pets and other things related to COVID-19
Video – What is COVID-19?
Video – What is my risk of getting COVID-19?
Video – How can I protect myself from COVID-19?
