YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — COVID-19 has claimed 17 lives in Mahoning County — the highest total of any county in Ohio — and 272 people have tested positive for the coronavirus there.
- Researchers are trying to figure out why the valley was hit so hard
- The health department isn’t releasing zip codes to define where cases are
- The Covelli Centre in Youngstown will be converted into a makeshift hospital for 250 patients
State and local researchers are trying to figure out why the pandemic has hit the valley so hard.
"My official answer is we won’t know until this is over. You know, the Mahoning county epidemiologist is doing case reviews, they’re continuing to monitor the situation as far as sourcing and tracing of these contacts," said Dr. James F. Kravec, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Dr. Kravec says there are some theories on the higher coronavirus death rate here, like the county having a large elderly population. But the health department isn’t releasing zip codes that would define where the cases are.
"You know, it’s not relevant to tracking the cases because COVID-19 is so prevalent right now that where a zip code, where someone lives, is not relevant to the public being aware or concerned."
Right now, Dr. Kravec says hospitals are seeing more patients than usual, but they aren’t overwhelmed just yet.
"Bed space is actually lower than we typically see. People are staying home if they’re not sick, surgeries aren’t happening, you know, elective surgeries. But we’re just waiting or more patients with COVID to come in. We have the PPE, we’re using it as we need to. We are conserving it just to make sure that we don’t run out," Kravec said.
Another concern for the county — the COVID-19-related deaths at the Elkton federal prison in neighboring Columbiana County, where Kravec says many Mahoning county residents work. He doesn’t know if the outbreak there is connected to the cases in Mahoning, but it could be a problem down the road.
"Because it is such a large number of prisoners in that site with a large number of employees, that if that gets out of hand, which it may be getting there, we gonna need more than just the Mahoning valley to handle those patients."
Help for the region is on the way. Governor Mike DeWine said Monday that a field hospital will be set up in the Covelli Centre in Youngstown to help deal with the influx of patients officials say is just weeks away.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the Covelli Centre would have been set up to welcome conventions, comedians and concerts this spring. Instead, it’ll become a makeshift hospital for patients.
"We’re blessed to have the staff to be able to stand up a location with the assistance of the state and the federal government," said Dr. John Luellen M.D, the Youngstown Mercy Health Market president. "Really being sure that we have the capacity to care for the citizenry of the valley in the valley, and really avoid some of those
Luellen expects a two-week design and build process to turn the Covelli Centre into a 250-bed hospital.