![Tuscarawas County has been placed on a watchlist as it is close to the highest risk level, purple or Level 4. [Ohio Department of Health]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e5d1e32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F11%2F934749527_1917423369.jpg)
Tuscarawas County is on the state's watch list for severe exposure and spread of the coronavirus. Next week, the county might move up a level to purple, the highest level in the Ohio Department of Health's alert system.
Health Commissioner Katie Seward said the virus is spreading across the county and cannot be pinpointed to one single location or congregation.
“At the current time time we do have active cases in every township in Tuscarawas County," she said. "The cases continue to come in by the minute so we are working pretty much around the clock to try to keep up with contact tracing, and we just don’t really see an end in sight at the current time.”
The infectious nature of the virus has exacerbated the massive spread, Seweard said. Small groups of asymptomatic people are spreading it to other household members, co-workers and friends through close contact.
"I think that the testing helps with compliance. So if someone knows that they tested positive, then they're more willing to stay home for the full 10 days that's required for them to not pass it on to others," Seward said. "What we're seeing is a lot of people who have mild symptoms, think that it's a cold or sinus infection and continue to work. And then, unfortunately expose others who may not have such a mild reaction to the virus. And then our hospital numbers are going up."
The Tuscarawas County health department has reported around 500 cases per 1,000 residents over the past two weeks, with an increase in new daily hospital admissions of around five as of this week.
Seward is encouraging people to get tested. She also wants people to be aware that the virus could already be present in their body around two days before symptoms appear.
People with mild or flu-like symptoms could also be infected and should get tested as well as isolate from others to decrease spread.
The county health department is p osting daily updates on its Facebook page with active case numbers, hospitalizations, outpatient visits and emergency department visits.
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