By: WBN staff writer
The Paulding County Commissioners met for a special Emergency Operation Center meeting with the Paulding County health agency members on Friday, June 26. Officials from the county including the Paulding County Hospital were included at this meeting.
Ed Bohn, the Paulding County EMA Director, asked for the meeting due to the concerns in the rise of the COVID-19 cases in Ohio and Paulding County itself. The number of positive cases has increased with positive tests coming from an employee at a meat packing plant in Van Wert County, and the concern in Allen County, Indiana is now in the top 50 in percentage of cases increase in the nation.
Amber Gochenour, Director of Nursing at Paulding County Health Department, talked about workers in Fort Wayne and Van Wert who live in Paulding County and believed to have had acquired it at their location of employment.
There has been a 7 case increase in the last 11 days (as of Friday, June 26). Ed Bohn was very concerned with the increase and wanted to make sure that all departments in the county had sufficient PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Bohn stated that there is more PPE and monitors coming in now. The sanitizer wipes seem to be the hardest thing to get along with more thermometers.
Ron Goedde from Paulding County Hospital stated that supplies at the hospital are holding well for the most part, but the amounts in storage have been dropping in the last week. The surgical masks have dropped. PCH has not had an inpatient COVID in a month, but getting supplies is still very limited.
The main shortage that is being reported across agencies is gowns. No agency is out, but the supplies in the distribution lines seem to be the limitation at this point in time. Ed Bohn commented that as long as there is no major outbreak, the county should be fine.
Paulding County Hospital can now test in-house for COVID-19 and turn the test around in 45 minutes. If there is an outbreak in the jail, or one of the county’s nursing homes, they would be able to test very quickly and acquire the results quickly. This allows for immediate action if a positive case turns up. The testing supplies are also limited, but not in a serious state as more are to be coming in early July.
Bohn stated that he is questioning his thoughts on reevaluating community events.
Currently, there is one case of COVID that is asymptomatic and it has not spread at all. This is good news for several reasons.
There are currently three active cases in Paulding County with no hospitalizations. The recovery period after the infection differs greatly depending on the person. Some have recovered and back to normal quickly, while others may never fully recover from the damage.
Dr. Kuhn, family practice doctor in Payne and Paulding County Health Department Health Commissioner, stated his concerns for the fall season to come.
Jason Landers, Sheriff, brought up his concern to the fact that the numbers seem to be totals since the beginning rather than the current number of infected people.
Amber Gochenour is more than happy to address questions and concerns that you may have about COVID-19 for the area at the Paulding County Health Department at 419-399-3921.
