Shelby County’s COVID-19 occurrence rate drops
By Kyle Shaner - kshaner@sidneydailynews.com
SIDNEY – After having the highest occurrence rate of COVID-19 cases in the state last week, Shelby County fell 10 spots to No. 11 this week, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
From Jan. 6 to Jan. 19, Shelby County reported 352 new cases of COVID-19. The county has 724.4 cases per 100,000 residents during that two-week span, which is down from 1,092.8 cases per 100,000 people reported last week.
Among Ohio’s 88 counties, Fayette (872.9), Clermont (869.6), Pickaway (853.6), Monroe (805.6), Huron (804.9), Muskingum (793.4), Brown (780.5), Warren (764.7), Lawrence (761.8) and Fairfield (748.2) now have a higher occurrence rate than Shelby County.
In total, Shelby County has reported 4,194 cases of COVID-19 with 131 hospitalizations and 21 deaths. The county saw an increase of eight hospitalizations since last week.
Most of billboard is finished
Owner of Wysong Plastering Etcetera Inc. Duane Wysong, prepares to hand a piece of scaffolding down to Kent Miller, both of Greenville, in front of the new electronic billboard and “Welcome to Sidney Home of Wilson Health” sign located at the intersection of Michigan Street and Fourth Avenue on Friday, Jan. 22. The sign is built on Wilson Health property and the sign itself is owned by Kenjoh Outdoor Advertising. Letters were placed on the sign by NCI Signs, LLC. A depiction of the Big Four Bridge can be seen between the electronic billboard and the “welcome” sign. At a later date another piece will be added above the electronic billboard and trees will be planted behind the sign.
Wilson, Rotary blood drive set for Jan. 19
To the editor:
Please mark your calendar for next Tuesday, January 19 to donate your precious blood. The Sidney American Legion, located at 1265 North Fourth Avenue, is the location for the 10 am to 6 pm Wilson Health and Sidney Rotary Club New Year Blood Drive.
Blood donors are always needed. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged the Community Blood Center to recruit donors more vigorously than ever before. Masking and spacing requirements have made planning for blood drives much more difficult. To enable the CBC to maintain an adequate blood supply, many more opportunities to donate have been scheduled.
COVID-19 pandemic top story of year
SIDNEY The year 2020 was a year unlike one that Shelby County residents had never experienced in their lifetime. The year had individual events which changed lives but non like the coronavirus pandemic which started in March and continues to today.
The editorial staff selected what they felt were the top stories of 2020.
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the news cycle and affected lives more than few, if any, events ever have.
The Sidney-Shelby County Health Department has reported more than 3,000 cases of COVID-19 in the county. More than 100 residents have been hospitalized because of the virus, and there have been 18 confirmed deaths. At times Shelby County had one of the state’s highest incidence rates.