In her weekly letter to the Medina County community, Health Commissioner Krista Wasowksi says locally, and across the state, we are experiencing a steady decline and leveling of new COVID-19 cases.
“I am hopeful that Medina County will have its red designation removed…in the coming weeks.”
Wasowski says hospitalizations, ER visits and urgent care visits for COVID-19 are all declining.
“Even with variant strains, there is reason for hope at the return to normalcy in the coming months.”
However, looking toward the future, Wasowski wants to “make it clear” that we will never be “completely free” from COVID-19. “We cannot use absence of all disease or illness as our benchmark for resuming interactions and activities; that would be unrealistic.”
Wasowski isn’t making that statement to cause alarm, rather to let the community know the virus can be managed and there are things that can be done to live with it.
Declining cases have proved “the mitigation efforts in our schools, businesses and social lives are working.”
“This week, I gave the green light to the Medina Marathon, and in-person meetings for 4-H, Girl Scouts, and school groups that had been suspended. Our schools are all open and with the adjustments, I am looking forward to seeing activities safely resume.”
Wasowski also says county vaccinations are increasing daily with several pharmacy chains, the Health Department and Cleveland Clinic Medina all administering first and second doses to county residents. However, vaccine supply still remains lower than demand.
After this week, Gov. Mike DeWine has announced he will pause opening up the vaccine to other groups to continue to work through current eligible populations. “What the next phase of vaccines will look like is forthcoming,” Wasowski says.
