From the September 22 meeting of the Lorain County Health Board. There were many chairs setup for guests as they seem to welcome the participation.

Elaine made the following statements, asked to be corrected if it was off track, and none of the board made any correction.

1 Covid continues to spread throughout the population regardless of vaccination status
2 It continues to evolve into more infectious but less deadly strains
3 There is no way to vaccinate to top the viral spread although the vaccination lessens the severity of the effects
4 Vaccine approach should be targeted to elderly and people with low immune response
5 Others benefit from therapeutics after exposure if they experience any symptoms at all

It was asked how the Lorain County Health (LCH) and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) view therapeutics, or monoclonal anti bodies. An emergency room doctor who was on the Board responded that therapeutics are available, and that you must qualify by being within 10 days from onset and being high risk. This is an outpatient treatment which can be done through the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and Mercy Hospitals.

The LCH agrees we are in the endemic stage (as opposed to the pandemic stage) and therefore monitors hospitalizations as a more significant statistic than cases. Because we are in the endemic stage of this virus, the goal of zero cases is unrealistic and unattainable.

The hospitalization numbers generally lag two weeks behind case numbers, therefore the decrease in cases should accompany a decrease in hospitalizations in about two weeks. Numbers that were extracted from the ODH website appeared to be way overstated and we will look for clarity as to how the County could have different numbers than what seems to be reported by the state.

Dave Covell made a video with Amherst school superintendent Steve Sayers to dispel the rumors that Covell ordered Sayers to mask students and that Sayers refused. The LCH does not “order” schools; their wording is that they make “recommendations” regarding school guidelines. As of this time, the recommendation for schools is that people get the vaccination and that people wear a mask.

There was a discussion as to how to manage students who are identified as a “close contact” with somebody who has tested positive. If the student has no symptoms, the student could just wear a mask in lieu of staying home to quarantine. This would allow the student to be able to more completely participate in the school environment.

Finally, a question was brought up about the end-game. What is the exit strategy? We will never get to a sustained zero cases. So does the mask policy end when only 2% of our students have cases? 1%? That number is not yet identified, so we are left with the need to give a reality-check to and educate families, educators, and anybody who believes Covid can be eradicated.

Thanks to Elaine and Laura for providing notes and to Jean, Ethlyn, and Kirsten for attending.

NEXT MEETING
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13 7 PM
9880 South Murray Ridge Road
Elyria, OH 44035
440 322 6367
Phone: 440-322-6367
https://www.loraincountyhealth.com