By Mac Cordell and Kayleen Petrovia
State rating triggers mask mandate
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday Union County is now at a Red Alert, Level 3 Public Health Emergency.
According to information from the Union County Health Department, a Level 3 classification “means the risk for exposure to COVID-19 has increased as sustained spread within the county has been identified in recent weeks.” Union County residents should continue to follow all standard precautions and health orders.
As a result of the upgrade, face coverings or masks will be mandated beginning at 6 p.m. this evening.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) mandate requires individuals in red counties to wear face coverings at all times when: in any indoor location that is not a residence; outdoors and unable to maintain a six-foot distance from individuals who are not members of their households; or waiting for, riding or driving public transportation, including ride sharing vehicles.
Law enforcement officials are also asking residents not to call with reports of people not wearing a mask.
Marysville Police Chief Floyd Golden said his department, “will not proactively seek out those not in compliance with the mask order.”
“If we are driving down the street and see someone without a mask, we aren’t going to turn around and cite them,” Golden said.
Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said during Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting the health advisory system, or color-coding of counties, is meant to “tie in with recommendations of behavior.”
He said it can help provide an answer to the questions, “How concerned should I be with my behaviors and when should I change what I’m doing?”
One behavior law enforcement officials are discouraging is confronting other people.
“A citizen probably should not confront another citizen because they are not wearing a mask or because they are wearing a mask,” said Golden.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton took it even further. He said business owners and employees are trying to do their jobs.
“These businesses, these folks, they are trying to survive,” Patton said. “They have to follow the health department’s mandates. They are following the rules. They don’t need to be assaulted or threatened because they are doing their job.”
His advice?
“If you don’t believe in this or in wearing a mask or you don’t like being told what to do, turn around and shop somewhere else,” Patton said.
The sheriff said that choosing not to support local businesses will have other effects.
“Even if you don’t agree with the mask mandate, let’s support these local businesses, let’s support the economy and do our part,” Patton said.
Officials said the matter is really a Department of Health issue and if there are concerns, they should be addressed first with the local health department.
“They are responsible for enforcing this and they can best decipher what needs done,” Golden said.
The chief said local officials have tried to take “a soft approach” to talk with citizens rather than cite or even arrest them. He added that if a patron is asked but refuses to wear a mask, police could be called.
Likewise, Patton said he does not have enough staff to actively look for mask violators. He said his approach has been to “support other agencies.”
Patton said that if the patron gets violent or threatening, “that will get us involved.”
The sheriff stressed that following the rules and keeping everyone healthy is the best way to keep the economy moving and everyone healthy.
“The last thing we want to see is this thing spread any faster than it is or to see a prolonged shutdown,” Patton said.
A county is labeled a Level 3 Emergency when four or five of ODH’s seven key indicators of COVID-19 are met within in a community.
Dr. Andrew Thomas from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said the indicators, “try to identify worrisome trends over the past two weeks so we have time to respond and take actions to reverse the trend.”
According to ODH data, four indicators are triggered in Union County: new cases per capita, increase in new cases, non-congregate cases and outpatient visits.
In summary, the number of cases is growing outside of large settings like prisons and nursing homes and more individuals are seeking medical care for COVID-19.
A statement from ODH read, “During the past 14 days, 40 COVID-19 cases have been identified, representing 31% of Union County’s total cases.”
The indicators not yet triggered include: emergency room visits, hospital visits and ICU bed occupancy.
Dr. Victor Trianfo from Memorial Hospital said local hospital capacity is not currently at risk but the healthcare system is prepared for the possibility.
“Our hope is continued intervention and changes will limit the spread in the area and region we serve, keep our COVID admissions at the very low level they have been since the start,” he said.
DeWine said daily average cases in Union County have quadrupled over the last three weeks.
“In recent weeks, nearly all of the cases were not in congregate settings, signaling significant transmission in the broader community,” the ODH statement included.
Many of the new cases in Union County were attributed to travel outside of Ohio, specifically to states where cases are surging like Arizona, Florida and North Carolina, DeWine said. Increased cases were also a result of “routine travel to neighboring counties.”