Commissioner wants to buy residentsmasks
CARES Act money would be used to equip those at greatest risk.
AWarrenCountycommissioner said he wanted to use federal CARESActmoneyonhigh-quality masks for at-risk residents, saying that then everyone elsewouldn’t have to wear them, although his 21-year-old daughter is still without her sense of smell after catching COVID-19.
County Commissioner Dave Young proposed using $10,000 or $20,000 in federal funding, intended to offset the effects of the coronavirus on communities, on N-95 or surgical masks for at-risk residents during awork session Tuesday with county health officials.
Warren County has more than 150,000 extra masks, including more than 3,000 N-95 medical masks, 19,050 non-medical N-95 masksandmore than 104,700surgical medical masks, provided by the OhioEmergencyManagement Agency at no cost to the county.
Young and Commissioner Tom Grossmannwere joined by Lelle Lutts, a Deerfield Twp. trustee, in calling for another letter to Gov. MikeDeWine, this one questioning the state’s response and
raing system and calling for the green light to get back to business inWarren County.
“We’re trying to lead,” Young said after the meeting.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommendedthat everyone shouldwear a mask in public settings andwhen around peoplewhodon’t live in your household as a critical step to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
“Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weaponswehave toslowand stop the spread of the virus— particularlywhen used universally within acommunity setting,” CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield said in a news release. “All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Young said he and his mother, Anna Ruth Young, 89, were ready to take the risk so they could hug again with her in a mask, fitted carefully and designed to catch droplets carrying the virus. “Her and I will take that risk to get a physical interaction,” Youngsaid after the meeting.
Young also noted he continued to advocate for a loosening of the restrictions designed to slowthe spread of the coronavirus although his daughter had so far not regained her sense of smell since spiking temperatures and testing positive.
“Four or five days afterward, she’s out jogging,” he said. “If Iwas 21, I’d probably be doing the same thing.”
He said those not in at-risk categories “should be free” to return to their lifestyles before the pandemic.
The county was among those not declaring an emergency in March as the pandemic began. In June, WarrenCountySheriffLarrySims joined the commissioners in questioningDeWineandsaid the sheriff’s officewould not respond to calls about violations of state restrictions.
Before Tuesday’s update, the county had 2,313 cases and 183 hospitalizations, according totheOhioDepartment of health.
Grossmann and Young grilled local health officials about the accuracy of the data collections, such as the 42 deaths attributed to coronavirus in the county involving people in hospice.
Grossmann wanted to know how many negative tests had been recorded, a data point health officials said theywere so far unsure how to gather.
The health officials were able to report 13.8% of the confirmed caseswere in the 0-19 age range, including two or three people who had been hospitalized.
“It’s really not a big deal for most of them,” Young said, suggesting the elderly could die fromloneliness or suicidewhile isolated under COVID-19 restrictions.
Warren County Health Commissioner Duane Stansbury acknowledged other health problems, such as obesity, were typically involved. He said the mask purchase was worth considering.
“We can lead thewaywith this idea,” Lutts said.