Akron and Summit County leaders are urging residents to follow the state’s order to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"What we want to do is ... flatten that curve and blunt it so we're able to handle as many cases as possible so people can get the help they need," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "And that's the entire focus is to save lives."

The "stay at home" order, signed by Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, will last until at least April 6 and will be reassessed at that time and as necessary, Gov. Mike DeWine said when the order was announced Sunday.

"The more that we can heed the governor’s warning and work together as seamlessly as humanly possible and collectively, the faster we will be able to hopefully make that impact," Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro said.

The order states that everyone must remain at their place of residence unless they work in what is considered an "essential" business. Exceptions include going to the grocery store, restaurant carryout, going to a park (but not use of playground equipment), taking care of neighbors or family members and weddings and funerals.

"We're all in this together, and if we follow the directives that are coming from the health department, the governor, we will help to stem this," Shapiro said. "And the only way that we can do that is by keeping calm heads, getting correct information and implementing the common-sense things that we are being asked to do, both as individuals and as families and as neighbors and as community members."

Shortage of gear

Horrigan and Shapiro both noted they’re concerned about a shortage of personal protective equipment, or PPE, as the Summit County Emergency Management Agency continues to seek it and other medical equipment, such as swabs, gloves, goggles and medical gowns, for reallocation in Summit County.

Local doctors, dentists, veterinarians, construction companies and others who are able and willing to donate personal protective equipment should call the Summit County Public Health COVID-19 Call Line at 330-926-5795.

"Our concern is around that personal protection equipment and not having the hospitals flooded with a tsunami of patients who didn't necessarily stay away from each other," Horrigan said.

The county has received requests for equipment from hospitals and first responders, with equipment distributed based on percentage, as the county won’t be able to fulfill all of the requests.

Employees

Shapiro said she’s been working from home since early last week, and Horrigan was still working in his city office as of Tuesday. But both said they spend their days much the same: participating in several teleconferences and phone calls, talking and planning with a range of people, from their own staff to Summit County Public Health to the governor’s office.

The city announced last week that roughly 600 of the city’s 1,800 workers classified as "nonessential" were being "directed not to report to work until further order of the mayor."

The mayor noted essential employees will start working from home as they’re able. Both Horrigan and Shapiro said the city and county will continue to provide key services.

Nine Summit County departments are only staffing essential personnel during the pandemic, with the rest of the employees in those departments shifting to paid administrative leave. Some essential employees are shifting to work-from-home status.

To keep essential employees in the city’s public safety, sanitation and other essential public service areas safe, Horrigan said employees are wearing protective gear and limiting contact with the public.

In some of the county’s larger departments, including Job and Family Services and Sanitary Sewer Services, employees are working in shifts to limit the number of people in buildings and allow county work to continue if someone on one of the teams gets sick.

Meetings and aid

Akron City Council has suspended all scheduled in-person meetings, and Summit County Council will meet every other week instead of once a week, starting March 30.

The city and county have suspended public access at many of their offices. For a list of how services are being provided during the pandemic, visit akronohio.gov/COVID19 or co.summitoh.net and click on "Summit County Continuity of Services Information."

For resources for affected businesses, visit gaccovid19.org. To apply for unemployment, visit unemployment.ohio.gov or call 1-877-644-6562. Those struggling financially or mentally can call 2-1-1 for help.

"We're gonna be here when this is all over, and we're gonna start to thrive again," Horrigan said. "But if we're gonna do these things and keep people away from the hospital, it means we need to keep people away from each other for as long as we can."

Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com.