2 years since first COVID-19 cases in Ohio; Local doctor reflects

MIAMI VALLEY — It’s been two years since the first cases of COVID-19 started appearing in Ohio and around the Miami Valley.

Two years ago on March 10, Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after the first three cases of the virus were confirmed in Ohio.

The next day, the World Health Organization declared COVID a global pandemic.

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Dr. Roberto Colón with Premier Health was on the frontlines during the beginning of the pandemic and recalled the beginning of the pandemic.

In weeks cases went from single digits to hundreds in weeks, changing many of our daily lives and creating what some called “a new normal”.

Colón told News Center 7′s Dontre Drexelius how such a quick increase in cases overwhelmed hospitals and healthcare workers.

One big change many of us had to make was starting to wear a mask to protect others from the spread.

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While the requirement of wearing a mask has changed with the number of new cases, Colón said he predicts there will be some kind of recommendation, especially in healthcare settings.

This isn’t something unique to COVID though, Colón said that many doctor offices do this during bad flu seasons.

Colón is hopeful that with summer coming and more people being outside that cases will continue to decrease.

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