PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio — The Portage County Health District has issued a Stay-at-Home Health Advisory effective immediately due to a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the region.
Advisories are voluntary.
The department said that the county is seeing a positivity rate of 10.5% as of Nov. 16.
In order to mitigate the spread of the virus and preserve hospital capacity, Portage County Health District is advising all residents to stay at home to the greatest extent possible.
Residents are asked to only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up food or receiving deliveries.
Portage County Health District also is advising residents of the county to avoid traveling in and out of the state and to not have guests in their homes during the upcoming holiday season.
The advisory states that all orders set by Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health, the county and its municipalities will continue to be enforced and adhered to by all residents.
Under the advisory, residents are asked to limit meetings and social events to 10 individuals—both indoor and outdoor events.
Businesses and local government are advised to switch as many transactions and functions as possible to conduct businesses remotely.
Public and private K-12 schools are advised to monitor COVID-19 cases within their district buildings and the community when deciding on in-person or remote learning.
The advisory will remain in place for 28 days or until the Portage County Health District determines a change is appropriate.
Portage County joins Summit, Medina and Cuyahoga counties as recently implementing stay at home advisories.
RELATED: Summit County issues Stay At Home Health Advisory in response to surge in COVID-19 cases
