(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.