Coronavirus Pandemic: Some postponed medical procedures can begin to happen, DeWine says

(WHIO)

By Breaking News Staff

Gov. Mike DeWine announced that hospitals and outpatient surgery centers can now begin the process of returning to doing some of the medical procedures that were delayed under the order issued by Dr. Amy Acton.

“Because of your hard work and our health care system’s coming together to meet community needs as a team, we have prevented the massive spike of cases that we feared,” DeWine said. “Now we must begin the gradual, multi-phased process of reopening."

The order had been in place to conserve the state’s supply on personal protection equipment.

More details will be included in an expansive plan expected to be released in the coming weeks.

As of Wednesday, there were 14,117 cases in the state, 610 deaths and 2,882 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio has an estimated population of approximately 11.7 million, census records show.

Of the states positive cases, 26% are from Ohio’s prisons. At those prisons, there has been an increase in testing.

[ Local cases, deaths reported to Ohio Department of Health ]

There have been 97,998 people tested for coronavirus in Ohio. In the state, 2,279 cases are health care workers, which is 16 percent of the cases.

It is important to note the number of confirmed cases is not a true reflection of actual cases in the state because of the limited amount of testing available. The hope is that the number of cases will be more accurate because of the expansion of the testing standards.

The state remains under an extended stay-at-home order until May 1.

Ohio and several states remain on track to gradually reopen businesses beginning May 1 amid continuing concerns about a lack of testing, rapid testing, and personal protection equipment as well as the ability to perform contact tracing. Spikes in new cases could slow or derail states’ plans to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeWine held a news briefing at 2 p.m. on the state’s response to the virus.

The following announcements were made:

  • The state has its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state’s juvenile correctional facilities, DeWine said. The case is in Cuyahoga County
  • DeWine asked health care facilities to reach out to their hospital and outpatient surgery patients who have had procedures postponed to potentially allow some of those procedures to move forward
  • Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said the state has lost about 1 million jobs. Some estimates are showing the country may reach 20 percent unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic, he said, noting the country reached 10.9 percent unemployment during the Great Recession
  • The state unveiled a priority system for testing. Priority 1 people are those with symptoms who are hospitalized or healthcare workers. Priority 2 are people with symptoms who are in long-term care/congregate living facilities, fire responders/critical infrastructure workers, 65 and older or living with underlying conditions. A subcategory of Priority 2 includes individuals and staff without symptoms who live in long-term care/congregate living facilities with an outbreak. Priority 3 includes others with symptoms or people with mild symptoms with high COVID-19 hospitalizations
  • The state is expecting to announce on Thursday enhancements to the state’s testing capability. This comes a day after DeWine announced a task force to be led by Govs. Celeste and Taft
  • The state has a team working to ensure businesses have the necessary protective equipment when the state begins to relax restrictions for businesses on May 1. DeWine said it is possible that some businesses won’t be able to get some of the supplies needed by May 1, but he’s confident the market will adjust to the needs.

President Trump and the White House coronavirus task force held a news briefing Wednesday evening.

Here are the highlights:

  • COVID-19 ‘WORSE’ OR ‘DIFFICULT’ THIS FALL?: The CDC’s Robert Redfield, M.D., disagreed with President Trump, who said Redfield was misquoted in the Washington Post about whether the coronavirus would be “worse” or “more difficult” this fall and winter. Redfield said it would be more difficult because flu and coronavirus would be circulating at the same time. “That doesn’t mean it’s going to be worse,” he said. Redfield said his intent was to get the public to embrace the flu vaccine with confidence to take the flu “out of the picture” to minimize the coronavirus. Trump remained adamant. “He was misquoted. We may have some embers of corona, but we’re going to put those out.” Task force member Dr. Deborah Birx said, “We’re preparing for that potential” that coronavirus would return. “We don’t know” whether it will come back this fall and winter, she said
  • REOPENING STATES: Trump said he disagreed with Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who is allowing some businesses to open Friday. Those businesses include nail salons, barber shops and beauty salons, massage therapists, bowling alleys and gyms. “They have to wait a little longer,” said Trump, whose comments came one day after he and Vice President Mike Pence expressed support and praise for Kemp’s decision. “I told him I totally disagree with him,” Trump said Wednesday. Public health officials have warned that Kemp is moving too quickly. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said he would advise Kemp “not to do that”
  • BLUE ANGELS: Trump said the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform for the Fourth of July at the National Mall celebration as he expects people to be there. “Most likely we’ll have to be standing six feet apart,” he said
  • BLACK AMERICANS & COVID-19: Pence said CDC statistics show COVID-19 is affecting black Americans disproportionately. He said the CDC finding is why the White House task force has moved to “deploy testing resources into those communities described by doctors as socially vulnerable”
  • IMMIGRATION SUSPENDED: Trump said he has signed the order stopping immigration for 60 days for certain categories of people. The suspension order targets people trying to enter the country on green cards. It also targets people coming into the country illegally, he said.
  • COVID-19 STIMULUS BILL: The House on Thursday is expected to approve the $484 billion bill that would replenish the small business loan Payroll Protection Program. The Senate passed the PPP on Tuesday.
  • PLASMA DONATIONS: The president urged Americans to donate blood for use in a blood plasma treatment for patients seriously ill with the virus. In the process, physicians test the plasma of people who have recovered for antibodies to the virus and then inject that plasma into the sick person
  • FACE MASKS: “If somebody wants to wear them, I’m all for it,” Trump said. The CDC and World Health Organization recommended the face coverings to protect the person wearing one from potentially being infected by someone else who may be asymptomatic, Dr. Redfield said

Things you need to know today, Wednesday:

  • Kroger Health and Kettering Health Network announced drive-thru testing through May. Visit http://krogerhealth.com/covidtesting and use the the virtual screening tool , which is based on the CDC’s guidelines and will help determine your eligibility for testing.
  • The Dayton VA announced it will test all residents and staff at the CLC on the campus for coronavirus.
  • OHIO BUSINESS STIMULUS: JobsOhio, Peoples Bank headquartered in Marietta, and the recently-merged First Federal Bank and Home Savings Bank (headquartered in Defiance and Youngstown) are partnering to support their small business clients in Ohio. The partnership will help small businesses maintain operations and payroll during the pandemic, DeWine said. JobsOhio has committed up to $50 million to assist the partnership. Eligible businesses can use loans for working capital including payroll, rent, mortgages or other fixed debts, utilities and other bills
  • LESSON PLANS: While DeWine said it wouldn’t be a good idea to reopen schools now even if the virus was under control, he hinted at the possibility the state would have a blended learning system this fall -- some distance as well as some in-person learning. At the higher education level, University of Dayton officials said their plans for fall classes remain fluid, while Urbana University officials shut down their school because of the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic

What else you need to know: