Knox County is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting Health Commissioner Julie Miller to call for restrictions on public gatherings and for businesses to make sure to enforce the state mask mandate for employees and customers.
“Nine months into the pandemic we have let our guard down,” Miller said in a statement. “People are not wearing masks. They are not social distancing. As a community we need to take care of one another. It’s time to step up and mask-up!”
Since Nov. 1, the county has recorded 200 COVID-19 cases, nearly equaling October’s numbers and four times the number recorded in October, Knox Public Health said.
Twenty-five of those patients are in the hospital, triple the number from last week, the agency said. Knox Public Health ordered a preschool to be closed after several students and staff were infected.
“The increase involves people of all ages and all walks of life, including pregnant women, the employed who now cannot go to work, school-aged children and churchgoers,” Miller said. “The main reason for the increase is attributed to community spread – the unintentional passing of the virus to one another from close contact in stores, businesses, churches, schools and at home.”
Failure to wear masks account for much of the increase, Miller told the Mount Vernon News on Tuesday.
“That’s what we are seeing with our case investigations,” she said. “One person or the other, or both, report they weren’t wearing masks. Typically, when both people were wearing masks, we don’t find as many positive cases coming from that.”
In a message to business leaders, Miller requested, “sharing a message with your constituents about the importance of mask wearing, avoidance of large or informal gatherings or meetings, etc. I ask that you consider having employees who can work from home to do so. Restrict visitors in your buildings.”
For the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays, Miller urges residents to be cautious and creative.
“Facetime more, do drive-in or drive-by dinners so you aren’t sharing space,” she said. “I feel like I know my children and grandchildren fairly well, but I don’t know for sure if they’ve worn a mask the week or two prior.”
If the number of positive cases continues to increase, Miller said she may have to issue stay-at-home orders, cancel school sports and impose other restrictions.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine scheduled a statewide address Wednesday "to discuss the critical stage Ohio is at in battling COVID-19," the Columbus Dispatch reported. There were 6,509 new cases on Tuesday, beating Saturday’s record by nearly 1,000.
There were 386 hospitalizations Tuesday statewide, increasing the total number to a record 2,747.
