[Ohio-Talk] Fwd: Daily Clips 8-14-20

[Carolyn Peters]

Channel 5 Cleveland mentions advocates advocating for individuals with disabilities. FYI

Sent from my iPhone

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From: "shirley.marchi at ood.ohio.gov" <shirley.marchi at ood.ohio.gov>
Date: August 14, 2020 at 12:29:36 PM EDT
To: "dr.carolyn.peters at gmail.com" <dr.carolyn.peters at gmail.com>, "matthew.sauer at uc.edu" <matthew.sauer at uc.edu>, "Jegerhardt9 at gmail.com" <Jegerhardt9 at gmail.com>, "margie.hegg at gmail.com" <margie.hegg at gmail.com>, "lisah at ocecd.org" <lisah at ocecd.org>, "carlo at loparopr.com" <carlo at loparopr.com>, "amckay at disabilityrightsohio.org" <amckay at disabilityrightsohio.org>, "kevin.miller at ood.ohio.gov" <kevin.miller at ood.ohio.gov>, "johnmoore at dsc.org" <johnmoore at dsc.org>, "pmoore at opra.org" <pmoore at opra.org>, "jmorris at ohiosilc.org" <jmorris at ohiosilc.org>, "smithj at ohio.edu" <smithj at ohio.edu>, "karis.spence at huntington.com" <karis.spence at huntington.com>, "Taniya.George-Olds at ood.ohio.gov" <Taniya.George-Olds at ood.ohio.gov>
Cc: "Kim.Jump at ood.ohio.gov" <Kim.Jump at ood.ohio.gov>
Subject: Daily Clips 8-14-20


Good afternoon. Please see the attachment and find below the Daily Clips.
 
In today's clips:
 
Office of the Governor: Release: 8-13-20: 5:14, p.m.: COVID-19 Update: Improving Minority Health, Updated County Risk Levels
 
Bullet Point News from 8-13-20  
 
News 5 Cleveland: Advocates find ways to protect rights of Ohioans with disabilities during COVID-19                  
 
 
Office of the Governor: Release: 8-13-20: 5:14, p.m.: COVID-19 Update: Improving Minority Health, Updated County Risk Levels
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 13, 2020         
 
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
 
COVID-19 Update: Improving Minority Health, Updated County Risk Levels
 
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
UPDATED COUNTY RISK LEVELS
 
Governor DeWine announced today that new public health data has led the Ohio Department of Health to designate 12 counties as being in a Red Alert Level 3 Public Emergency as defined by the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.
 
Map - 8132020
Increase to Level 3:
 
Brown
Clermont
Muskingum
Continue at Level 3:
 
Cuyahoga
Erie
Fairfield
Franklin
Licking
Lucas
Marion
Mercer
Montgomery
Decrease to Level 2:
 
Allen
Medina
Decrease to Level 1:
 
Adams
Defiance
Fulton
Henry
Knox
Lake
Paulding
Williams
 
Detailed information all of Ohio's 88 counties can be found on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System's website. The system was developed to provide local health departments, community leaders, and the public with data and information on the severity of the COVID-19 spread in the counties in which they live. The system consists of four levels with specific risk-level guidelines. Each level is calculated with data gathered on seven public health indicators.
 
IMPROVING MINORITY HEALTH
 
Today, Governor DeWine released the final Minority Health Strike Force report and the state's executive response.
 
The Minority Health Strike Force was formed in April to examine the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on minority communities, as well as broader health disparities and racial injustices. Currently, African Americans represent 14 percent of Ohio's population but are 24 percent of positive COVID-19 cases, 32 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations, and 19 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. Similarly, at least 6 percent of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Ohio are Latino, despite only representing 3.9 percent of Ohio's population.
 
The COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint lists 34 recommendations on dismantling racism, removing public health obstacles, improving the social/economic and physical environments, and strengthening data collection to better track disparities.
 
“Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity.”
In response to the Strike Force's report, Governor DeWine issued Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity. The action plan outlines efforts to reinforce the DeWine Administration's commitment to advancing health equity and establishing Ohio as a model for justice, equity, opportunity, and resilience.
 
“Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity” 
As part of his commitment to equity, Governor DeWine also announced the creation of the new Ohio Governor's Equity Advisory Board.
 
The Board will work to improve Ohio’s work to dismantle racism and promote health equity. Board members will draw on the expertise within Ohio’s communities of color and will represent diverse viewpoints from sectors like education, healthcare, public and private business, community organizations, and members of the criminal justice community.
 
"We are committed to solutions, because as I have stated before, racism is a public health crisis. Each of us has a responsibility to be mindful of and work to counteract racial and other disparities that hold Ohioans back from reaching their full God-given potential," said Governor DeWine. "I will not shy away from addressing these long-entrenched inequalities among our fellow Ohio citizens. Fortunately, we have many great partners in this mission, and we are grateful to the individuals and organizations that provided feedback to the strike force and who have worked with my administration on this issue."
 
“Being a person of color should not dictate your health outcomes. As the Health Commissioner for the City of Cincinnati and member of the COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force, I am proud of the work of my fellow strike force members to address these health inequities. The interim report and blueprint address short term and long term recommendations, as we need sustainable efforts to address these multi-faceted issues. The Governor’s response to the blueprint is action-oriented and his formation of the Governor’s Equity Impact Board shows that he is serious about the plan being implemented and committed to all Ohioans,” Dr. Melba R. Moore, Cincinnati Health Department Health Commissioner.
 
“The COVID-19 Ohio Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint sets a foundation that promotes sustained long-term and lifetime wellness and focuses on individuals and communities of color who disproportionately are afflicted with health disparities and chronic disease conditions. We understand that improvements to healthcare access and social and economic factors and determinants of health are critical to addressing disparities and improving health outcomes for all Ohioans. I commend Governor DeWine for taking the blueprint and quickly working with his administration to outline concrete next steps to improve the health and wellbeing of all Ohioans and advance equity across the state of Ohio,” Dr. Charles Modlin, MD, Executive Director Minority Health, Founder / Director Minority Men’s Health Center & Urologist, Cleveland Clinic
 
CURRENT COVID-19 DATA
 
There are 105,426 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 3,755 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 12,023 people have been hospitalized, including 2,743 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
 
Video of today's full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel's YouTube page.
 
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
 
–30–
 
 
 
Bullet Point News from 8-13-20                     
 
 
•          Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
o          99,856 confirmed cases
o          5,570 probable cases 
o          105,426 total cases
o          12,023 hospitalizations
o          3,481 confirmed deaths
o          274 probable deaths
o          3,755 total deaths
o          2,743 ICU admissions
More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.
 
•          Governor DeWine released this week's new Ohio Public Health Advisory System  map.
o          Upgraded to Level 3 (Red): Brown, Clermont, Muskingum
o          Remaining at Level 3 (Red): Cuyahoga, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Lucas, Marion, Mercer, and Montgomery
o          Downgraded to Level 2 (Orange): Allen and Medina
o          Downgraded to Level 1 (Yellow): Adams, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Knox, Lake, Paulding, and Williams
o          There are no counties on Ohio’s Watch List
 
•          Today, Governor DeWine released the final Minority Health Strike Force report and the state's executive response. The Minority Health Strike Force was formed in April to examine the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on minority communities, as well as broader health disparities and racial injustices. The COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint lists 34 recommendations on dismantling racism, removing public health obstacles, improving the social/economic and physical environments, and strengthening data collection to better track disparities.
 
•          In response to the Strike Force's report, Governor DeWine issued Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity. The action plan outlines efforts to reinforce the DeWine Administration's commitment to advancing health equity and establishing Ohio as a model for justice, equity, opportunity, and resilience.
 
•          As part of his commitment to equity, Governor DeWine also announced the creation of the new Ohio Governor's Equity Advisory Board. The Board will work to improve Ohio’s work to dismantle racism and promote health equity. Board members will draw on the expertise within Ohio’s communities of color and will represent diverse viewpoints from sectors like education, healthcare, public and private business, community organizations, and members of the criminal justice community.
 
•          Ohioans filed 20,969 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported to the U.S. Dept. of Labor today. This was 253,246 fewer than the peak earlier this year. Ohioans filed 374,751 continued jobless claims last week, which were 401,551 fewer than the peak earlier this year.
 
•          Over the last 21 weeks, ODJFS has distributed more than $5.9 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 778,000 Ohioans. Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, about 94% have been processed, with about 6% pending. In addition, ODJFS has issued more than $5 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to more than 514,000 PUA claimants.
 
•          Ohioans can apply for unemployment benefits online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at unemployment.ohio.gov. It is also possible to file by phone at 877-644-6562 or TTY at 888- 642-8203, Monday through Friday 7AM to 7PM, Saturday 9AM to 5PM, and Sunday 9AM to 1PM. Employers with questions should email UCTech at jfs.ohio.gov.
 
As always, Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Department of Health hotline, 1-833-4-ASK-ODH are great resources for those who have questions.
 
 
 
News 5 Cleveland: Advocates find ways to protect rights of Ohioans with disabilities during COVID-19
 
8-13-20 Olivia Fecteau
 
[https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/continuing-coverage/coronavirus/advocates-find-ways-to-protect-rights-of-ohioans-with-disabilities-during-covid-19]
 
MASSILLON, Ohio — From Zoom meetings to virtual conferences, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we do many things.
 
For Ohioans with disabilities, that includes how the facilities in which some of them live are monitored.
 
Susan Koller is a board member for Disability Rights Ohio. Originally from Dayton, she has cerebral palsy and lives in Beechwood Home, a long-term care facility in Cincinnati. She's lived there for about two and a half years.
 
"It’s not your typical nursing home," Koller, 38, said.
 
But during the pandemic, it is considered a nursing home and is therefore under restrictions, with no visitors allowed.
 
"The reality, even though I hate it, is that people with disabilities of all kinds are a very vulnerable population," Koller said.
 
While she doesn't feel this way about Beechwood, Koller said of others at different facilities, "You are nervous about raising your voice, because you're like, 'What if I raise my voice and someone gets upset with me? Will that impact my care?'"
 
Koller emphasized the importance of outside monitoring at facilities.
 
"I'm lucky to be in a pretty good facility, but we are very vulnerable," Koller said, adding, "Not so much for me, but imagine the people who can't talk, who can't speak, who can't articulate. They need someone to be their ally."
 
That monitoring is done by Disability Rights Ohio, a nonprofit designated by the governor that has the legal authority to access facilities across the state, unaccompanied, in order to protect and advocate for Ohioans with disabilities.
 
"Our mission is to advocate and protect the legal, civil and human rights of all people with disabilities in the state of Ohio," said Amy Price, an advocate with DRO.
 
Price said DRO goes into facilities ranging from nursing homes and state and private psychiatric hospitals to residential treatment facilities, jails, and prisons. But DRO was not able to do its typical monitoring in the form of onsite visits during COVID-19.
 
"Even if we weren't feeling sick, we recognized that we could, in fact, spread COVID-19 into those facilities if we continued to go in," Price said.
 
In order to continue monitoring, but in a safe way that reduces risk to residents and staff, DRO decided to implement remote monitoring. Advocates can meet with administrators at the facility via Skype or Zoom, get a virtual tour to assess conditions and possible safety issues, and speak with residents, either one-on-one via video call or with a facility staff member there as well.
 
Koller said virtual monitoring is "a very ingenious way to do it," adding that she "wouldn't have ever thought of that."
 
"Maybe it's not as good as in-person, but we're all having to adapt," Koller said. "Obviously, we'd all be happy to get back to normal, but you've got to do what you can in these weird times. Any monitoring is better than none."
 
Andrea Bucci is the CEO of Heartland Behavioral Healthcare in Massillon, one of six regional psychiatric hospitals in Ohio through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).
 
"We provide short-term intensive treatment to patients in an inpatient setting, as well as comprehensive care to patients committed by the criminal court system," Bucci said.
 
Of remote monitoring, Bucci said, "I thought the process was absolutely great. It was streamlined, it was organized. It was efficient."
 
She noted that monitoring was important.
 
"Having DRO is essentially like having an extra set of eyes. So it's always beneficial," Bucci said. "Plus, they're the experts when it comes to patient rights, which is very valuable."
 
Bucci added that it's also comforting to patients.
 
"Knowing that there is an agency looking out for them and protecting their rights wholeheartedly is supportive to their recovery process," Bucci said.
 
Of course, there were some challenges, according to Price. There were fewer opportunities to go in-depth at each facility, and without having DRO there in person, Price said they may have had fewer chances to talk with residents who might have come up to them.
 
But it also created efficiency by eliminating travel time. For instance, Price said from DRO's Columbus office, traveling to Cuyahoga County could take two or more hours. Factoring in a round-trip drive and four to five hours of time at the facility, visiting just one place could take an entire day.
 
From October 1 through the beginning of March, Price said DRO visited 18 facilities.
 
From April through mid-June, that number rose to 86 virtual visits, approximately half of which were nursing homes.
 
"It did afford us the opportunity to see more places, meet some facilities that we hadn't met before," Price said.
 
Going forward, when COVID-19 is passed, Price said the organization would likely blend remote monitoring and in-person visits. But, during a pandemic, it has been a way to continue doing work DRO deems essential.
 
"It is essentially important, especially during these times, because people with disabilities are not always thought of first," Price said.
 
"I can't stress how crucial or important having someone like DRO, how crucial it is that they are working on our behalf and really looking out for us and knowing what we need and helping us find what we need," Koller said.