(New Philadelphia, Ohio) – The Ohio Department of Health officials today that Tuscarawas County has moved from Risk Level 1/Yellow to Risk Level 2/Orange in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.
The Level 2 Risk Designation means that increased exposure and community spread are present, and current health orders should continue to be followed while exercising a high degree of caution. Moving into the Level 2 designation is a result of meeting the requirement for indicator 2, a sustained increase in new cases across at least 5 consecutive days in overall cases by onset date over the last 3 weeks, and meeting the requirement for indicator 3, the proportion of cases not in a congregate setting has been over 50% in at least one of the last 3 weeks, according to officials with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
Guidelines that are recommended by the Ohio Department of Health for those living in Level 2 counties are as follows:
- 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 into a tissue or elbow
- Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high-risk.
- High-risk individuals should take extra care to follow precautions.
- Decrease in-person interactions outside your household.
- Seek medical care as needed, but limit unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities to see others as much as possible.