COVID-19 Information and Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus 2019, which originated in the Wuhan providence of China. COVID-19 is a lower respiratory illness that is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets released when a person coughs or sneezes

The main symptoms of COVID-19 are, fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing although some patients also have a loss of smell and taste and digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

You should contact your healthcare provider or the Mercy Health Hotline (888-884-7150) for instructions if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. It is also important to stay at home if you are sick. While many people will experience only mild symptoms, some people you come in contact with may be more vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19, which is why it is important to stay at home. Your health care provider or the Mercy Health Hotline representatives will provide you with further guidance.

The best way to avoid catching or spreading the novel coronavirus is proper hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer (above 65% alcohol) when soap and water are unavailable, avoid touching your face, and comply with all shelter-in-place and stay-at-home directives.

CCA has stopped movement of staff between facilities and has temporarily suspended face-to-face visitation. In addition, resident external movement is limited to employment, medical appointments and court obligations. We are adhering to social distancing requirements per Governor DeWine’s, requiring at least 6 feet between persons. We have reduced the number of residents per group and are encouraging residents to not congregate in groups larger than 10 persons for any activity. We have expanded our GPS monitoring and day reporting services in order to ensure facilities are able to maintain social distancing requirements. We take seriously the need to protect the health, safety, and well being of your loved one and have taken recommended steps to reduce resident exposure to the virus, including rearranging sleep quarters and common areas. In addition, residents and staff are screened for symptoms every time they enter a facility and staff who are sick are being directed to stay home. CCA has also made precautionary plans for the quarantine of any residents showing symptoms of COVID-19.

When we receive a new placement they are screened before release by the releasing authority and screened again for COVID-19 upon intake. New residents are then isolated for 14 days to ensure they have not contracted the virus.

Residents from the ODRC of Bureau of Prisons will be released based on their expiration of sentence. For individuals who are at CCA as a condition of community control or PRC will be released upon completion of his or her programming.