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STEUBENVILLE -- With COVID infection numbers surging, local health leaders say it's time "we each need to take responsibility."
"We need to be responsible for ourselves," said Dr. Patrick Macedonia of the Jefferson County Health District board of directors. "If we just do that, we can decrease our numbers and get back to orange. It's going to take a statewide effort."
As of Monday, Jefferson County was reporting 249 active cases with 21 people hospitalized and nine deaths. That's up considerably from Friday, when the county logged 166 active cases, 11 hospitalizations and six deaths.
Sixty-eight of Ohio's 88 counties, including Jefferson County, are now classified as "red." Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has said the rapidly growing coronavirus caseload is "not sustainable."
Macedonia said people need to follow the CDC guidelines -- masks, social distance, wash hands frequently in hot water and use hand sanitizer.
"The more important thing is wearing the mask. People just don't seem to understand the importance of wearing a mask," he said.
"I still think there's unnecessary gatherings going on. I'm not sure why they're not paying attention to it. Masks help, no question about it. But (68) counties out of 88 are in the red, so we're not alone, but it doesn't mean our number shouldn't be reduced."
Health board member Clark Crago said the numbers are concerning.
"Hopefully, if people wear masks and keep distancing, maybe take a break from large gatherings for a while, we can work through this," Crago said
"I've heard (comments) about our numbers surging because we don't have a health commissioner in Jefferson County, but we have staff in place and department heads who are doing an excellent job and they're very busy right now with the pandemic," Crago said. "Jefferson County is no different than the rest of the state with this surge. Counties across the state are having a large surge right now, it's not just Jefferson County."
When the board terminated the contract of Nicole Balakos as health commission on Sept. 10, Jefferson County had only 21 active cases and one hospitalization.
Macedonia bristled at suggestions the board's decision to fire Balakos had impacted coronavirus spread locally.
"It has nothing to do with having a commissioner," he said. "The other 68 counties in the red, you think they don't have a commissioner? It's not having a commissioner that put us in the red, it's people not doing what they're supposed to do. Having that person is not going to make a difference ... that's not the reason we're in red -- it's people not doing what they're supposed to do.
"You just can't take a period of time and say we didn't have a health commissioner so we're in the red because of that. Not having a commissioner has nothing to do with us being in the red."
Macedonia insists it's the public's unwillingness to follow the CDC guidelines for mask wearing and social distancing that is the root of the problem.
"If we would just follow the guidelines and wear masks and stop having parties, we could bring it under control easily," he said. "It's not hard to figure it out, in my opinion. Follow the CDC guidelines, we'd be much better off. It's going to take everybody's effort to bring the numbers down -- not one person, not one group. It's going to take everybody's effort. What's worse, wearing a mask or shutting a business down?"