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LISBON -- Due to the overwhelming response to the reservation line for the upcoming drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the Columbiana County General Health District has added a second telephone number for residents to call.
Those residents 75 and older (with a priority to those 80 and older) may now call 330-692-2210 or 330-429-5133 between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to speak to a member of the staff directly and reserve a dose. When calling, the resident will be given a time and day they need to report in order to receive their reserved dose of the vaccine.
A large volume of calls is expected and the health department continues to request patience. While there may be a busy signal or an indication that the voicemail box is full, there currently are still reservations available so those seeking the vaccine are encouraged to try the call again.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, 4,949 Columbiana County residents have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which amounts to 4.86 percent of the county population.
Of those receiving a dose, 1,755 have been 80 years old or older, which is 33.78 percent of the population of this age group, the age group that has seen the majority of deaths attributed from coronavirus. Across Ohio, the have been about 146,000 first doses coming into the state each week and divided between the counties.
Three county schools are on a list to receive vaccines for staff next week -- Beaver Local, Columbiana and East Palestine, according to an announcement by Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday. The program to begin vaccinating teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and others at the school is slated to begin in Ohio the week of Feb. 1 with the goal of all schools being able to safely provide in-person or hybrid education by March 1.
With hospitalizations falling, DeWine also announced Tuesday the curfew hours may soon be amended. Currently Ohio has a curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., but when hospitalizations for COVID-19 related hospitalizations drop below 3,500 for seven consecutive days, the Ohio Department of health has recommended extending it to 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for at least two weeks.
According to the press release Tuesday marked the sixth day that the hospitalizations have been below that number.
The plan includes additional opportunities for the curfew to be amended. If hospitalizations across the state drop below 3,000 for seven consecutive days, the curfew would change to 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. for at least two weeks. If hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, the Ohio Department of Health would recommend lifting the curfew.
If the hospitalization numbers rise again, the curfew could be reinstated.
djohnson@mojonews.com