Today Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled a new system for showing us how dangerous our county is. At the same time they have stop posting actual numbers. Perhaps they will start again. Gov. DeWine mentioned we do not need numbers as they do not add up to the new system based on 7 criteria.While telling us this was more information, it is actually less verifiable mumbo jumbo.
He also unveiled his plan for Schools this fall. They are all different, we trust them to do what is right, and though we are broke we are going to send them some money to do something with. We hope they spend it wisely. (Huh?)
For however many indicators a county meets, they will be placed into one of four color-coded levels to display the possible risks involved:
Level 1 (yellow, 0-1 indicators): Displays active community spread; all current health orders should be followed
Level 2 (orange, 2-3 indicators): Displays increased exposure and spread; besides following all current orders, residents should also exercise a "high degree of caution"
Level 3 (red, 4-5 indicators): Displays "very high" exposure and spread; residents should limit activities as much as possible
Level 4 (purple, 6-7, indicators): "Severe" exposure and spread; only leave home for supplies and services
As of Thursday, all of Ohio's 88 counties are at at least Level 1, while none are at Level 4 at this time. However, the governor cautioned Franklin County (where Columbus is located) is on a "watch list," calling the increase in cases there "alarming."
The public health advisory system will have degrees of levels and is determined by the following seven indicators:
1. New cases per capita: Triggered when a county has an average of 50 cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period
2.Sustained increase in new cases: Triggered by a five-day period of sustained growth
3.Proportion of cases not congregate cases: Triggered when at least half of new cases originate from non-congregate settings during at least one of the past three weeks
4.Sustained increase in ER visits: Triggered by an increase in COVID-19-related emergency room visits over a five-day period
5. Sustained increase in outpatient visits: Triggered by an increase in COVID-19-related visits to outpatient settings (such as telehealth appointments) over a five-day period
6.Sustained increase in new COVID-19 hospital admissions: Triggered by a five-day period of sustained growth in new admissions
7.ICU bed occupancy: Triggered when at least 80% of a county's ICU beds are occupied over at least three of the last seven days
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