It’s late, you’re sleep deprived, your loved one is not feeling well and you’re on the phone with the doctor’s office weighing the options. Should you call an ambulance or transport your loved one to the emergency room yourself? This scenario is just one of many that more than 1 in 5 Americans who care...
June 18, 2020
Ohio’s Balancing Act: Knowing the Risks of Reopening and Taking Action
On April 27, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the Responsible Restart Ohio plan, outlining the state’s efforts to slowly revise the public health orders for COVID-19. After facing significant pressure and criticism from some in the business community, these changes reflected the administration’s efforts to balance the dual imperatives of proactive public health measures with...
May 8, 2020
“Flattening the curve is not the end of the pandemic.” 1,997 COVID-19 cases, 105 deaths in Cuyahoga County
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) commissioner Terry Allan discussed the Responsible Restart Ohio plan. On Friday, May 15 personal services facilities like salons, barbershops, tanning booths and day spas can open. Also, on May 15 outdoor...
May 7, 2020
$750M in budget cuts DO NOT mean consumer Medicaid benefit/coverage cuts
When the Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) announced on Tuesday, May 6 that April tax revenues were $866.5 million short in this year’s budget it didn’t really surprise me. When one considers Ohio’s record unemployment claims, it was expected that income and sales tax proceeds would take a big hit. OBM Director Kim...
May 1, 2020
Cuyahoga County Executive announces employee furloughs, hiring freeze and expected budget cuts
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County executive Armond Budish announced two-week furloughs for county employees, a county-wide hiring freeze and a planned 15 percent budget cut at the May 1 Cuyahoga County Board of Health briefing. Local governments, like Cuyahoga County,...
May 1, 2020
Giving birth while social distancing changes everything
For pregnant women and those who have recently given birth, the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the realities of social distancing present a lot of unforeseen challenges, concerns and ambiguity in terms of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. Being pregnant during a pandemic may mean more than just having to cancel your baby shower and your reoccurring...
April 28, 2020
76 people have died in Cuyahoga County due to COVID-19 – more than double the number who died from flu last year; County has seen 1,563 cases of COVID-19
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) commissioner Terry Allan began the April 28 press briefing by recapping Governor Mike DeWine’s plan to reopen Ohio. On May 1, health care providers like dentists and veterinarians can...
April 27, 2020
Columbus Metropolitan Club Special Report: Coronavirus exposes disparities
The Columbus Metropolitan Club hosted a forum on April 22 featuring Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Health Commissioner for Columbus Public Health and Stephanie Hightower, President & CEO of the Columbus Urban League, to discuss how the Coronavirus pandemic has not only exposed but exacerbated decades-old racial inequities and disparities in our communities. After a friendly reminder...
April 21, 2020
“We certainly can’t flip a switch that will that will certainly lead to more infections and more deaths,” 1,028 cases in Cuyahoga County, 56 deaths
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) health commissioner, Terry Allan, opened the April 21 briefing by addressing students who won’t return to school for the remainder of the year who are having to work remotely....
April 17, 2020
“We’re going to be living with COVID-19 for some time” health commissioner says: 927 cases in Cuyahoga County, 42 deaths
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health holds press conference updating citizens on the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) health commissioner, Terry Allan, removed his mask as he walked to the podium to begin the Friday briefing, by stating that we now have a “new normal.” The new...