Together Ohio
Ohio’s Response to COVID-19
Ohio officials and partners continue to develop strategies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption it has caused throughout Ohio’s economy. Every Ohioan is playing a part in helping to save lives and restart the economy. For the most vulnerable, this means staying at home as much as possible. For others, it means chipping in to help those who must stay home, heading to work, supporting businesses and other venues as they reopen, or adhering to policies, practices, and guidelines designed to keep the virus at bay.
If you are unable to go out, there is another way to support local businesses. Visit Support Local Ohio at https://ohio.org/supportlocalohio/ to find links to local restaurants and retailers you can support by ordering delivery or carryout, making online purchases, or buying gift cards.
For information on ways officials have addressed the pandemic and planned for an economic restart, visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/public-health-orders/public-health-orders.
For information on financial resources available to families and individuals, visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/employers-and-employees/Resources-for-Individuals-and-Families/resources-for-Individuals-Families.
For information on financial resources available to businesses, visit Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov/BusinessHelp.
Top Personal Protective Equipment Needed:
- Surgical gowns (S, M, L, XL, XXL)
- Face/surgical masks (adult, pediatric)
- Gloves (nitrile, vinyl or butyl)
- N-95 particulate respirators
- Isolation gowns
- Face shields
- Tyvek coveralls
- Thermometers
- Foot coverings
- Ventilator tubing
PPE Donation Form
Thank you to all individuals, businesses, and organizations who donated PPE to the state to protect our protectors and Ohioans. At this time, the state is asking anyone interested in donating PPE to please donate PPE in your local community. Please consider donating to your local health department, police, fire, EMS, local businesses impacted by the virus, or nonprofit organizations.
PPE Specification Resources
Surgical apparel Product Classification
Surgical Masks - Premarket Notification [510(k)] Submissions: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff, Issued March 2004
Standard Application for the Approval of Respirators
Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff about ventilators and accessories
Estimated PPE Needed per ICU Patient Infographic
Estimated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed per ICU patient using conservation per 24 hour shift:
Gowns:14
Gloves: 36
Goggles: 3 (Reusable)
N-95 Face Masks: 13
Total: 66 PPE needed every 24 hours to care for one patient in ICU.
State of Ohio Ventilator Inventory
Amy Acton, MD, MPH, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, has ordered that all entities with ventilators report their inventory by no later than 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday beginning April 1st, 2020 until further notice. For the purpose of this order, a ventilator is a machine, equipment or device designed to move breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breathing assistance to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or has difficulty breathing.
https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/ventinventory
Anesthesia Ventilator Mobilization
Ohio Emergency Anesthesia Ventilator Mobilization Plan
“No person should be beyond help while anesthesia ventilators sit idle”
- Ohio’s conventional supply of ventilators may prove inadequate during the upcoming COVID-19 crisis, perhaps even with the addition of ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile. In other parts of the world we have witnessed the exhaustion of available ventilators. This is the result of a sudden and insurmountable burden of COVID-19 patients, leaving doctors to ration ventilators by triage, and leaving the unfortunate without hope. Current plans for a supply of this equipment extend not much beyond the resources of the individual healthcare systems that will be expected to care for large numbers of COVID-19 patients. These plans do include the utilization of anesthesia ventilators that are already present within their own systems but likely not much more. Ohio has a large number, hundreds, of anesthesia ventilators that will either be totally idle or underutilized during the coming months. These machines are located within ambulatory surgery centers and smaller hospital operating rooms across the state. While necessary surgeries certainly must continue in some of these locations, many facilities will be severely curtailed or effectively shuttered due to the restriction on elective procedures.
- An anesthesia machine includes all the essential equipment contained in a basic intensive care unit room – monitors, suction and a ventilator. Most standard hospital rooms may be upgraded to ICU status by utilizing one of these. This efficient unit is portable, allowing ICU care to be delivered at virtually any location, including large scale temporary facilities, where electric lines and piping for oxygen and suction can be installed.
- In order to successfully utilize these devices as a second line to conventional ventilators during an overwhelming COVID-19 patient surge, Ohio must have a plan in place which allows for the location, identification, delivery and installation of these machines in a rapid and coordinated fashion. This may only be accomplished in this short time period by, or with extensive help from, an organization with the resources of the state. Ohio is the first state to consider harnessing the lifesaving strength of its entire ventilator resources for the benefit of its citizens and we may yet help other states to plan to use their untapped ventilator reserves in the event of an overwhelming patient crisis.
William Glenn MD
President, Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists
ASA Committee on Trauma and Emergency Preparedness
Some examples of Ohioans stepping up
- Businesses are helping elected officials explore new ways to help workers and the economy safely reopen, establishing protocols and guidelines intended to keep customers safe and committing to adherence. They are keeping sites clean, screening workers for COVID-19 symptoms when they arrive, requiring the use of face coverings by employees, and using creative ways to keep people 6 feet apart.
- Customers are limiting their shopping, dining, and entertainment hours, wearing face coverings, and staying 6 feet from others to keep their neighbors and community members safe.
- Essential workers, including those in the healthcare, food, and transportation industries continue to go to work every day to help care for patients and to make sure Ohioans have everything they need to stay safe and healthy.
- Countless other employees have headed back to workplaces to help ensure Ohio’s economy sees a rebound.
- Dozens of schools that provide career-tech education donated thousands of items, from cleaning supplies to masks and gowns to be used to protect healthcare workers. School nurses collected and donated similar items from schools where they serve.
- Colleges and universities all across the state have donated or loaned personal protection supplies and equipment, including beds and ventilators. These items have come from various areas, including maintenance departments and healthcare-related, science, research, and art programs. They have been distributed to local hospitals, healthcare systems, first responders, emergency management agencies, and local health departments.
- College programs used 3D printers to create personal protection equipment for healthcare providers and parts for medical devices.
- Various groups provided baked goods and other meals to essential workers, including staff members at long-term care facilities and trucker drivers at Oho rest areas.
- People working in other industries, including construction, donated protection supplies for use in the healthcare field.
- Innovative researchers and manufacturers have found new ways to address any future potential shortages of protection equipment for medical professionals.
- Manufacturers of various items modified production equipment to instead make hand sanitizer, masks, and other needed medical and safety equipment.
- Businesses, churches, and other non-profits and organizations offered space, supplies, and services, including hotel rooms, catering, cleaning and disinfecting, storage, shipping, and technology products.
- The United Way of Central Ohio COVID-19 Community Response Fund continues to help shore up food pantries, emergency relief programs, and other community resources.
- Members serving in the Ohio National Guard worked to ensure facilities, equipment, and personnel would be available where most needed to treat patients and protect healthcare workers; provided support at federal and state prisons; and supported the state’s collection and storage of personal protective equipment. They continue to help distribute food and supplies from foodbanks and similar organizations; and are assisting with the collection of COVID-19 test specimens and with staffing needs at a long-term care facilities.
- Restaurants implemented new delivery options or reduced delivery fees.
- Inmates in Ohio prisons took on new day jobs to make hospital gowns, and will soon be making cough masks, face shields, and hand sanitizer.
- Hospitals collaborated to preserve essential supplies, advise public health, and find new ways to care for patients and keep them safe, such as outdoor testing sites.
- Internet service providers and other utilities have refrained from terminating services, waived late payment fees, and offered new ways for people to connect.
- Healthcare providers and their patients postponed countless medical procedures to preserve medical and safety supplies.
- Many banks and credit unions have offered loan payment deferrals, fee waivers or refunds, and extended credit lines. Some suspended foreclosures where possible. Banks also have encouraged the use of digital banking features.
- Employers and employees have collaborated to implement work-at-home arrangements.
- Educators found innovative ways to use distance learning and make sure students were not forgotten.
- Libraries established new virtual and curbside services to share reading and educational materials with children and adults.
- School districts continue to find safe ways to continue school breakfast and lunch programs.
- Tech schools have offered free courses.
- Support groups have found virtual ways to continue providing services to people with substance use disorder and other needs.
- Fitness centers are offering virtual programs to help people stay healthy and manage stress.
- News media have offered nonsubscribers unlimited access to COVID-19 information.
- Ohioans across the state stayed home, went without paychecks, gave up vacations, coped with isolation, homeschooling their children, and balancing work and childcare in new ways, all in an effort to protect their communities.