Current Alert Level for Marion: Level 3
As of 2/22/2021

The Public Health Advisory Alert System is a color-coded system designed by the Ohio Department of Health to supplement existing statewide orders through a data-driven framework to assess the degree of the virus’ spread and to engage and empower individuals, businesses, communities, local governments, and others in their response and actions. Read more information about the Ohio Public Health Advisory System on their website.

Level 1

  • Active exposure and spread
  • Follow all current health orders

Level 2

  • Increased exposure and spread
  • Exercise high degree of caution
  • Follow all current health orders

Level 3

  • Very high exposure and spread
  • Limit activities as much as possible
  • Follow all current health orders

Level 4

  • Severe exposure and spread
  • Only leave home for supplies and services
  • Follow all current health orders

Alert Indicators and Explanations

Flagged

Indicator

What it tells us

New cases per capita

Flagged if greater than 50 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. Allows for counties with different population sizes to be appropriately compared.

Sustained increase in new cases

Flagged if increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in overall cases by onset date over the last 3 weeks. Reflects disease spread in the population.

Proportion of cases not in congregate setting

Flagged if proportion of cases that are not in a congregate setting goes over 50% in at least one of the last 3 weeks. Used as indicator of greater risk of community spread.

Sustained increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits for COVID-like illness

Flagged if increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of visits to the emergency department with COVID-like illness or a diagnosis over the last 3 weeks. Provide information on the health care seeking behavior of the population and a sense of how concerned residents are about their  current health status and the virus.

Sustained increase in outpatient visits for COVID-like illness

Flagged if increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of people going to health care provider with COVID symptoms who receive a COVID confirmed or suspected diagnosis over the last 3 weeks. Provide information on the health care seeking behavior of the population and a sense of how concerned residents are about their current health status and the virus.

Sustained increase in new COVID hospital admissions

Flagged if increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days in the number of new hospitalizations due to COVID over the last 3 weeks. Important indicator of hospital burden and disease severity.

Intensity Care Unit (ICU) bed occupancy

Flagged if percentage of the occupied ICU beds in each region goes above 80% for at least  3 days in the last week, AND more than 20% of ICU beds are being used for COVID-19 positive patients for at least three days in the last week. Provides an indication of the capacity available to manage a possible surge of severely ill patients.

Level 1

0-1 indicators met; or low incidence threshold of under 10 cases per 100,000 over a two-week period

Level 2

2-3 indicators met

Level 3

4-5 indicators met; or if previously at Level 3 until it drops below the high incidence threshold of over 100 cases per 100,000 over a two-week period.

Level 4

6-7 indicators met for two consecutive weeks. The county will remain at Level 3 and be on a watch list for the first week.