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EAST LIVERPOOL -- While there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Columbiana County, many people are wondering when that will change.
Currently an East Liverpool man is secluded at a local hospital isolation ward, awaiting his test results for the COVID-19 virus. He posted on Facebook shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday: "I'm not trying to be an alarmist, but this is how my night is going. I'm on quarantine for five days, until the results come back. I didn't want to post this on social media; however, I have worked with quite a few of you this week and you deserve to know.
"I had a fever, a terrible cough and earlier today I couldn't catch my breath. That is when I decided to get tested," the city man posted. "I'm hoping it's just the flu, but I had to clear my (conscience) just in case. (Please) stay safe out there, and don't put people under unnecessary risk."
Coronavirus.ohio.gov currently says there is 67 confirmed cases of the coronavirus within the state, included 31 in Cuyahoga County and three in Stark County. The majority of the victims are male with a median age of 48.
Mahoning County Health District confirmed an additional two people have tested positive Tuesday afternoon.
The hospitalized man's Facebook page confirms he works for the Mountaineer resort in West Virginia, which hosted an adult prom for a Wellsville-based charity on Saturday.
Mountaineer failed to respond for requests for comment Tuesday afternoon; however, officials did post to their Facebook page that they were temporarily closing the resort at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
It is unknown when and where the hospitalized man last had worked at the resort.
East Liverpool City Hospital's Rick Perez couldn't confirm or deny that the man is at the facility due to privacy issues associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1995, or HIPAA. However, he did assure that his facility has no confirmed coronavirus test results.
Perez did confirm that a photo from the man's Facebook page showing an isolation room was typical in this type of situation. "This area is being used as a waiting area for patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms. This is a precautionary step to protect all patients who visit our Emergency Department. The safety and well-being of our community, staff, and health care team is our highest priority," he said.
He did confirm that less than 20 tests have been administered at ELCH, but that could change at all moment: "We do not have any test results back as of yet. Results usually take three to five days to be analyzed by authorized laboratories."
Effective immediately, East Liverpool City Hospital will open a COVID-19 testing center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in an effort to allow primary care providers to streamline testing. According to a post to the East Liverpool Family Practice Facebook page, they were notified that patients will not be done on those having mild or no symptoms.
"Those who need tested should be directed to the front entrance door of the hospital, as there will be signs posted directing them to the testing center. The front lobby is now locked, but the door to the testing center is only a few feet away and will be marked. They have segregated a waiting areas in the Emergency Department for those with respiratory symptoms who need to be seen," the post read.
All patients needing tested should either have a mask or acquire one at the emergency room.
Anyone with mild symptoms and members of the household should remain in self isolation for a total of 14 days, according to the notice they received via fax from the hospital
Until Tuesday night, West Virginia was the only state not to experience any positive cases of coronavirus, but that ended when a subject was diagnosed in the state's Eastern Panhandle near the Washington D.C. border.
Throughout Ohio, two other positives for coronavirus have taken to Facebook, sharing their cautionary tales. The residents of Summit and Trumbull counties detailed how they originally thought they just suffered from the flu when their illnesses quickly turned serious.
They described rapid heart rates, low grade fevers, headaches and unproductive coughs as well as difficulty breathing.
The woman, who is best known as Summit County COVID-19 case No. 2, posted to social media, "I am the face of this infection. It is brutal, and I'm a healthy 48-year-old with no underlying conditions. Please take this seriously. People you love (and) their lives may depend on it."
Perez concluded by saying, "For the safety and well-being of our community and health care team, we have closed the main entrance to the hospital. We ask that you only enter the facility through the (East Liverpool City Hospital) emergency department."
For more information about the new test center, visit https://youtube/AoZHFJxNA5o