Coronavirus: 8 deaths in Montgomery County; ‘Please wear a cloth face mask,’ health commissioner says

Public Health- Dayton & Montgomery County Commissioner Jeff Cooper. FILE

Public Health- Dayton & Montgomery County Commissioner Jeff Cooper. FILE

There are now eight deaths connected to the coronavirus in Montgomery County.

The number of cases and deaths is still much lower than other communities this size in Ohio, Health Commissioner Jeff Cooper of Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County said. However, he said to keep those numbers down people need to continue to stay home, follow social distancing and to wear cloth face masks to protect others who are more vulnerable.

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“Please, wear a cloth face mask when you are in public,” Cooper said.

In addition to the eight deaths, there are 205 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 70 hospitalizations in Montgomery County.

Of those who died, there were four men and four women. Five were 80 or older, two between 60 and 69 and one between 50 and 59, according to Ohio Department of Health data.

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Sarah Hackenbracht, president and CEO of the Greater Dayton Hospital Association, said there is an uptick in cases and deaths in the region, and that hospitals have been preparing for this.

“Our hospitals stand ready to care for you,” she said.

Casey Smith, Public Health project manager for the community overdose action team, has been overseeing the county’s COVID-19 call center.

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As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, there have been more than 4,100 calls since it started March 12, she said.

At its peak, there were between 250 and 300 calls a day, which now are between 100 and 150 calls a day. The line at 937-225-6217 is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Smith said one thing to note is that Public Health does not have COVID-19 test results, that they go to the doctor who ordered the test.

The ODH also has a hotline, which operates seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The number to call is 1-833-4-ASK-OH.

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