Outbreak reported at area nursing home

CELINA - A COVID-19 outbreak was reported at The Gardens at Celina on Thursday, and three new cases raised the county's total to 221.

One new confirmed case was reported in Auglaize County, raising that county's total to 70.

Five confirmed cases are connected to the outbreak at The Gardens at Celina. Three involve staff, and two involve residents, according to a Mercer County Health District news release on Thursday. The facility has 13 pending test results.

An outbreak of COVID-19 is declared when two or more cases are confirmed that can be epidemiologically linked in a specific timeframe, district public information officer Kristy Fryman said.

Officials will not release the age range or gender of those infected at the facility to protect the privacy of the individuals, she said.

The Gardens at Celina is the second area long-term care facility to have a reported outbreak. The district declared an outbreak at The Gardens at St. Henry on May 12.

The Gardens at St. Henry has 29 confirmed cases, 15 of which involve residents, and 14 involve staff members. Five resident deaths have been reported at the St. Henry facility.

Both facilities are working with district officials to isolate those who are ill and contact others who may have been exposed.

"The staff at The Gardens has been working diligently to care for the physical and emotional well-being of their residents and updating (the health district) regularly," the release reads. "The (district) and The Gardens have communicated frequently with one another during this time. "Together we ask that you respect the privacy of the residents, families and staff as we all work through this pandemic."

Long-term care facilities are at a higher risk of communicable disease outbreaks because of the close proximity of residents and staff, as well as the underlying health conditions many residents have, district officials said.

Three women have come down with the newest confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the release. The age ranges are 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40. All are self-isolating at home.

Celina Manor has also had a staff member test positive for COVID-19.

District officials on Thursday also reported 159 people who have recovered, 40 pending test results, 771 negative results, 10 hospitalizations and eight deaths from COVID-19.

Of the eight who have died, five had been residents at The Gardens at St. Henry, two lived in Coldwater and one lived in Celina.

COVID-19 cases are widespread throughout the county. Celina has the largest number at 85, while Coldwater has 49; St. Henry, 39; Fort Recovery, 23; Maria Stein, 12; Rockford, six; Mendon, three; Chickasaw, three; and Burkettsville, one, according to the health district's online dashboard at arcg.is/1mTqa5.

Walk-in antibody testing for COVID-19 will be available at multiple Mercer Health locations beginning Monday, according to a news release.

The testing is a part of Mercer Health's direct access testing and does not require an appointment or physician's order. The direct access testing form is available at https://mercer-health.com/covid-19-coronavirus-information.

Testing will be available from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, and during regular office hours at Mercer Health Medical Group offices in Celina, Fort Recovery, St. Henry and New Bremen.

In Auglaize County, the 70th confirmed case involves a 41-year-old man who is self-isolating at home, according to an Auglaize County Health Department news release.

Department officials also reported eight probable cases, 11 hospitalizations, 51 people who have recovered and three deaths from COVID-19.

As of Thursday evening, the Ohio Department of Health reported 37,282 confirmed and probable cases in the state, 6,213 hospitalizations and 2,339 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19.