Mahoning Co., Trumbull Co. both move to level 3 Red

Mahoning County and Trumbull County Board of Health are reporting the each county has moved  to Level 3 Red as of Thursday, Oct. 8.

Mahoning Co. and Trumbull Co. were alerted Thursday afternoon of the increase to red, meaning the virus is spreading. 

The governor said that not enough social distancing or mask wearing.

Half of the new red counties are attributed to funerals and wedding, according to the governor.

Mahoning Co. had 18 cases from secondary spread at an out of county wedding, two separate funerals as well as a birthday party and a group home setting.

Mahoning has hit four of the seven indicator, including:

• New cases per capita, at 87.0 cases per 100,000.
• A sustained increase in new cases at 9.0 average cases on Sept. 19 to 19.3 by Sept. 30.
• Proportions of not in a congregate setting.
• Sustained increase in emergency room visits, with 4.4 average visits on Sept. 25, to 8.9 on Oct. 4.

Trumbull was last red Aug. 20. A sports team in the county is mainly responsible to most of the new cases and transmissions according to the governor.

Trumbull increased from level 1 yellow to level 3 red based on increased community spread.

From Sept. 28 through Oct. 4, Trumbull County increased 95 new coronavirus cases compared to 48 cases the one week prior. The case rate to 57.6 per 100,000 as of Oct. 6, compared to 29.5 per 100,000 on Sept. 29. For the most part, these cases were not part of the long care term care or prisons.

According to the Trumbull County Combined Health Department, the near doubling of cases within a week demonstrates a high activity of community spread, including family member to family member.

Residents of these counties should continue to follow all current health orders. Facial coverings are to be worn at all times. This includes when in any indoor location that is not a residence; when outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household; and waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, a taxi, a private care service or ride sharing vehicle.

Residents should follow the recommended guidelines for Risk Level 3 to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Conduct a daily health/symptom self-evaluation and stay at home if symptomatic.
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from non-household members.
• Wear face coverings in public, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
• Increase caution when interacting with others not practicing social distancing or wearing face covers.
• Avoid traveling to high-risk areas.

Follow good hygiene standards, including:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizer frequently.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cover coughs or sneezes (e.g., into a tissue, or elbow).
• Symptom self-evaluation monitoring.
• Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high-risk.
• High-risk individuals should take extra care to follow precautions.
• Decrease in-person interactions outside household.
• Seek medical care as needed, but limit or avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities to see others as much as possible.
• Decrease in-person interactions with others.
• Consider necessary travel only.
• Limit attending gatherings of any number.