Coronavirus Outbreak 2019
An outbreak of respiratory illness
caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is currently spreading in multiple countries, including the United States. Public health continues to monitor and respond to this outbreak at the local, state and national levels.
As of June 2, 2020, there are 4,752 cases of COVID-19 in Columbus and Worthington.
To
see a detailed report on COVID-19 cases including data on age, race, sex,
hospitalizations, and ZIP codes, click the reports below:
Graphs in the below report show cases in Columbus jurisdiction only
and will be posted every weekday.
Graphs in the below report show cases in Columbus & Franklin
County jurisdictions combined and will be posted every Friday.
Questions?
The COVID-19 outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation. If you have questions, call Columbus Public Health at 614-645-1519, or the Ohio Department of Health at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
If you would like to report a
workplace concern about social distancing or hygiene, please call 614- 645-1519,
or submit your concern to the City of Columbus’ 311 system.
About COVID-19
COVID-19
(novel coronavirus) is a respiratory illness that originated in Wuhan, Hubei,
China in December 2019. It has since spread internationally to several
countries, including the United States. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever,
coughing and difficulty breathing.
Those most at-risk for COVID-19 are people who are in or have recently traveled to
areas with sustained spread of the virus,
or people who have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed
with COVID-19.
People who are 65 and older; people who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility; people with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma; people with serious heart conditions; people who are immunocompromised, including cancer treatment; and people of any age with severe obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as diabetes, renal failure or liver disease, are also considered at higher risk for illness if they have been exposed.
What Columbus Public Health is Doing
Columbus Public Health is closely
monitoring this outbreak, along with our partners at Franklin County Public
Health and the Ohio Department of Health. ODH is also coordinating
efforts directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have activated the Incident Command System—a
coordinated system designed for effective and efficient response to emergencies—to
ensure that we are prepared to respond to cases reported in our
jurisdiction.
Our
public health nurses and epidemiologists notify and quarantine close
contacts of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in CPH's jurisdiction. We expect to see more local cases as
this outbreak evolves, and are working diligently to respond to the situation
and protect the health and safety of our community.
What You Can Do
People at higher risk of severe illness should stay home and
away from large groups of people as much as possible, including public places
with lots of people and large gatherings where there will be close contact with
others.
Those at higher risk include people who are 65 and older; people who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility; people with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma; people with serious heart conditions; people who are immunocompromised, including cancer treatment; and people of any age with sever obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as diabetes, renal failure or liver disease.
For the general public, the CDC recommends following the usual steps that help to prevent the spread of illness and the flu:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Cover coughs
and sneezes with your arm or your inner elbow, NOT your hands.
- Avoid close
contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when
you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- Wear a face covering in public settings.
The general public can also help by:
- Preventing the spread of misinformation by
learning the facts about COVID-19. Understand that this is a
rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes
available. Continue to visit the CDC website
for the most current and accurate information.
- Fighting fear and stigma by understanding
that you cannot tell if someone is at risk for spreading COVID-19 based on
how they look.
Viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities or
racial backgrounds. Treat everyone with compassion, kindness and respect.
Learn More about Coronavirus
The details around COVID-19 are rapidly changing. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the CDC, ODH and World Health Organization websites below.
Resources
Visit and download these resources on COVID-19.
For Health Care Providers:
For Businesses:
For Community Services and Organizations:
For Individuals, Families and Population Groups:
Infectious Disease Reporting for Healthcare Providers
The Infectious Disease Reporting System is the combined infectious disease reporting system for health care provided in Franklin County, including the City of Columbus. The Columbus and Franklin County Public Health agencies have joined forces to make the reporting, tracking and investigation of infectious disease cases easier and more convenient. Health care providers may report a disease call by calling (614) 525-8888 or visiting www.idrsinfo.org.
Disease Reporting for the General Public
If you're currently having symptoms and would like to talk to someone, you can call the Infectious Disease Investigation team at Columbus Public Health at 614-645-1519.
Learn More about Reportable Illnesses