COVID-19 is ‘raging like a wildfire,’ says local doctor during Gov. DeWine news briefing

Gov. Mike DeWine and Kettering Health Network family doctor and Greene County Coroner held a news briefing Wednesday morning at DeWine’s Cedarville home. The briefing is part of a six-city tour the governor will be doing to discuss COVID-19 cases across the state.

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• He spoke in Cedarville today because western Ohio is the “hottest” part of the state when looking at the numbers, he said. DeWine didn’t say what other cities he’ll be stopping in or when.
• When Ohio gets its first round of vaccines, the most vulnerable - nursing home patients and healthcare workers - will be the first to receive the vaccine, DeWine said. DeWine wasn’t sure which vaccine Ohio is getting.
• Kettering Health Network Dr. Kevin Sharrett likened the pandemic to a wildfire that’s spread across our nation and world. “We’re learning more about this fire everyday and how to control it,” he said. “But the fire is real and it’s raging.” He said the first strategy is to avoid the “fire,” but if you have to go out, wear a mask.

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• “I believe we are in the darkest hour,” said Dr. Sharrett. “A new day is dawning, but how many more people will fall prey before then.” He said it’s not time to panic, but to pay attention. “Right now, the fire is raging. This is serious. Do your part. Do everything you can to help us take care of you," he said."
• Dr. Sharrett related the COVID-19 pandemic to the Xenia tornadoes. He said like the tornadoes, this virus will pass, but we will be dealing with the impacts for long after, and some patients will never be the same. Dr. Mukul Chandra was at the prime of his career and died while waiting for a double lung transplant after contracting COVID-19, he said. Dr. Sharrett said he has another patient, a 34-year-old man, who is on oxygen and likely will be for the rest of his life after getting COVID-19.
• Right now, patients are being cared for, but the biggest concern is caregivers, Dr. Sharrett said. “Make no bones about it, we’re feeling the heat,” he said. “Right now there’s not a concern for resources. Our people are our biggest concern.”

On Tuesday, DeWine announced a statewide curfew from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. that goes into effect Thursday night.

Cox Media Group