Summit County has its first confirmed case of coronavirus.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton announced Friday afternoon that a Summit County woman in her 50s is among the 14 Ohioans so far that have tested positive for COVID-19.



The woman apparently didn’t travel to a high-risk country or have exposure to a known patient with the virus, Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda said during a news conference in Akron following the state’s announcement.



The woman is being treated at an Akron hospital, Skoda said.



“This is an unprecedented time,” Skoda said. “We have never faced this in any of our lives.”



Public health officials didn’t disclose where the woman lives or at which hospital she’s being treated.



Skoda said because of how quickly the situation is changing, Summit County health officials weren’t aware of the exact number of people being tested in the county on Friday.



“There are systems in place to find out who individuals are,” she said.



Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro on Friday afternoon declared a state of emergency, following the governor and president taking similar actions.



The order calls for “all available emergency relief efforts be coordinated through the Summit County Emergency Operation Center to provide appropriate assistance and coordination for required emergency measures to save lives and ensure the public health and safety in the County of Summit.”



The county is mobilizing a “virtual emergency center” to minimize person-to-person meetings and maximize the ability to coordinate responses with remove access, said Greta Johnson, Shapiro’s assistant chief of staff.



County officials plan to ask Summit County Council on Monday night to approve $200,000 in additional funding for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to get food to children and families in need.



Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said the city also has taken steps to mobilize public resources and protect residents.



The mayor has suspended all international travel on city business until June 30 and placed a 30-day moratorium on water service shutoffs.



He asked residents to remain calm and heed the advice of public health experts.



“At this point, if you’re not taking this seriously, then you’re not paying attention,” he said.



He urged people to think about those most at risk for serious complications — the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.



That includes practicing social distancing, or keeping 3 to 6 feet from each other and not being in large groups, Skoda said.



She explained that the news conference was held in person a day after she said media briefings would be conducted by phone to demonstrate social distancing by setting up chairs spaced apart. Individual seats were set up several feet apart from each other for the audience in the auditorium.



As of Friday, the confirmed cases in Ohio include nine men and five women between ages 34 and 66, with a median age of 48, according to state health officials. Another 159 cases are under investigation.



Illnesses started back as far back as Feb. 25 and as recently as Wednesday.March 11.



Summit County Public Health doesn’t have on-site testing capabilities yet, but doctors from Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Akron Children’s Hospital said they’re developing those processes.



Acton reminded people they must have a doctor’s order for the test, even when drive-thru testing begins, as area hospitals and others nationwide plan.



Infectious disease experts from Akron’s hospitals stressed that people should not go to hospital emergency departments just to get tested.



Inappropriate use of medical facilities will overwhelm the system, warned Dr. Thomas File, chair of the Infectious Diseases Division at Summa Health. Only those with symptoms are getting tests.



Skoda urged people to help “reduce that curve and not as much illness as we possible could have” by thinking about others and following the advice of experts.



“Please remember we’re all in this together,” she said.





Staff writer Amanda Garrett contributed to this report. Beacon Journal consumer columnist and medical reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.beaconjournal.com/topics/linfisher.



