journal
PPE, staffing shortages linger as COVID-19 kills 2500 nursing home residents in Ohio
One in 10 Ohio nursing homes told regulators they didn’t have any N95 respirators on hand, which medical staff use to shield themselves from the coronavirus while treating infected patients. Even among those that do, the supply chain is tenuous: 1 in 4 said they don’t have a week’s worth of the masks in store. […]
Ohio State to launch mandatory COVID-19 testing program for students
Ohio’s largest university began its early, voluntary phase last week of an ambitious COVID-19 surveillance plan for the looming pandemic semester. But come Aug. 25, if randomly selected Ohio State University students opt out of swabs up their noses, they can expect a university order to quarantine, a referral to Student Conduct for non-compliance, and […]
Seven months into pandemic, COVID-19 testing still falling short
After an initial scare from a COVID-19 rapid-response test in the morning, two diagnostic tests on Gov. Mike DeWine came back negative late Thursday evening. A follow-up test Saturday did as well. For most Ohioans, however, testing scarcity — antigen, antibody and diagnostic (PCR) — has been and continues to be the norm as the […]
‘Shocked and concerned:’ Trials begin this week for bars cited with COVID-19 violations
The evidence — photographs, video, and firsthand testimony — was damning, and the accused generally didn’t contest the allegations. If it weren’t for the new coronavirus infecting about 4.8 million Americans and counting, all the offense amounted to was a bunch of adults hanging out in a bar. “There were approximately 100 patrons inside,” said […]
A brutal July leaves 535 Ohioans dead from COVID-19
At least 535 Ohioans died of COVID-19 and 35,500 residents contracted the disease in July, state data shows. More than 2,400 Ohioans were admitted to the hospital in July, elevating the number of coronavirus patients in state hospitals to their highest levels of the pandemic. About 1,000 are currently in the hospital as of Monday, […]
‘All ages are susceptible:’ 260 kids infected in Georgia summer camp COVID-19 outbreak
Research from the CDC details how the new coronavirus ripped through a Georgia summer camp infecting 260 attendees in a matter of days. The account, released Friday, comes as school districts nationally agonize over balancing the threat of an infectious disease and myriad collateral damage in keeping children from schoolrooms. “This investigation adds to the […]
Eyeing COVID-19 surge, governor seeks to close bars at 10 p.m. nightly
Just a day after a Franklin County judge halted a Columbus ordinance closing bars nightly at 10 p.m., Gov. Mike DeWine said he’s trying to impose the idea statewide. Researchers, analysts, health departments and media reports have connected COVID-19 outbreaks to bars and restaurants. However, the Ohio Restaurant Association, along with an attorney representing bars […]
A pandemic is raging. So are Ohio’s bars.
PUT-IN-BAY — The drinks are flowing. The music is bumping. On Saturday, a line formed to enter one of four pools at The Islander Inn, including what’s advertised as the world’s longest swim-up bar. Of course, a pandemic rages on all the while. Recent mass testing detected 66 cases of COVID-19 among workers on the […]
Current COVID-19 hospitalization levels reach record high
Hospital rolls of COVID-19 patients soared to a record high Wednesday as a month-long surge in new cases has spilled over into Ohio’s hospitalization counts. On Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported there are nearly 1,100 Ohioans currently in the hospital with COVID-19, the respiratory and vascular disease caused by the new coronavirus. The […]
Unidentified Ohio House rep gave FBI texts, testimony against Speaker in bribery case
The state representative wanted to explain his opposition to bailing out two failing nuclear power plants owned by FirstEnergy Solutions. A high-powered lobbyist, who federal prosecutors allege was involved in a $61 million racketeering scheme operated by the Speaker of the House and others in his “enterprise” to pass the bailout, wasn’t having it. “No […]
A 50-year-old beat cancer twice. Then came COVID-19
When her sister died of COVID-19, it was on Crissy Kolarik to make the phone calls. Her sister, Jennifer Bessemer Marando, 50, left behind a herd of 12 biological and adopted children, a husband, close cousins, and friends anxiously awaiting the grim news. About five years ago, Marando was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a […]
House speaker floats baseless theory of ‘double counting’ COVID-19 cases
Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, without evidence, floated a theory to reporters Thursday in which the Ohio Department of Health is counting some COVID-19 cases twice and some as many as 15 times. Householder, R-Glenford, said he doesn’t necessarily believe the notion himself that ODH is inflating the data, but said there’s a lot of […]