As the COVID-19 case count in Union County continues to grow, local agencies are preparing for the possibility of increased cases from correctional facilities.
The Union County Health Department received notice of four additional cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, bumping cumulative cases in the county to 15.
Of the cases, 14 are lab-confirmed, while one is a probable case per the CDC definition. Four individuals are actively ill while 11 have recovered.
Two affected individuals have required hospitalization while ill and one is currently hospitalized.
The age range of the cases is 25 to 83 years old with a median age of 48 and average age of 48.5.
UCHD reports 60% of the individuals are male and 40% female.
Four cases have unknown exposure to the virus, while 11 are either healthcare workers, individuals with travel history or individuals connected with a known case of COVID-19.
UCHD advised that the case count should be interpreted with caution, as it likely reflects targeted testing due to test shortages.
“Interpreting case counts as a complete picture of illness in Union County is not advised,” agency staff stated.
The health department indicated congregate settings like prisons increase the risk for “quick and aggressive spread of COVID-19.”
“As testing in these congregate settings continues, we expect to see an increase in cases reported in Union County,” according to a statement from UCHD.
The additional cases may come from facilities located within Union County, as well as facilities outside the county who have staff that reside in the community, UCHD noted.
According to information from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as of Monday no staff or inmates at the Ohio Reformatory for Women have tested positive for COVID-19.
However, three inmates are currently in quarantine, which “separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed, or potentially exposed, to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.”
Three additional inmates are currently in isolation, which “separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.”
ODRC reports 36 people at ORW are being tested for COVID-19.
UCHD is preparing a team to specifically support congregate settings as more targeting testing at prisons is coming from the state.