LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Author: David Miller

  • Starting Monday masks optional for all students and no more contact tracing in Loveland City School District

    Starting Monday masks optional for all students and no more contact tracing in Loveland City School District

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – Beginning Monday, Loveland City Schools will implement a “mask-optional” policy for all students in grades PreK-12. The exception to this policy is for students in the HeadStart PreK program, which is set by federal guidelines.

    Also on Monday, the District will be updating its COVID protocols to align with new guidance from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) which you can read below. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff from ODH has said that schools are no longer required to do contact tracing. 

    HERE is the January 23 COVID 19 Dashboard from the District. New case counts won’t be issued again until this Monday afternoon.

    Going forward, the only time District staff will do contact tracing is when it is requested by Hamilton County Public Health or ODH because of an outbreak or cluster of COVID cases in one of our buildings.

    Masks will still be required on all school buses. Masking will continue to be “recommended” in school buildings.

    Announcing the new policies in the District newsletter, Superintendent Mike Broadwater said, “I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few months, respectfully sharing your thoughts on the issue of masks. I know that some families will see this as a welcome change, and others will hear this news with concern. I’m hopeful that within a few days of being fully mask-optional, those concerns will melt away as we see more smiling faces in our buildings.”

    To: Local Health Departments and K-12 School Superintendents
    From: Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, Director, Ohio Department of Health
    Date: Jan. 26, 2022

    Subject: Contact Tracing and Case Investigation Statement

    As COVID-19 has evolved, public health mitigation strategies have had to adjust periodically to address new challenges. The quick spread of the Omicron variant and its rapid clinical course have made universal contact tracing, case investigation and exposure notification impractical when combined with newly reduced timelines for quarantine and isolation.

    Therefore, effective immediately:

    • The Ohio Department of Health recommends that local health departments (LHDs) shift from universal contact tracing, case investigation and exposure notification to a cluster or outbreak-based model. This strategy prioritizes people in high-risk settings, such as congregate residential settings (e.g., shelters, correctional facilities, and nursing homes) or for certain circumstances such as outbreaks or clusters in specific settings or in relation to initial cases or clusters associated with new variants, as appropriate.

    • Schools may discontinue universal contact tracing but are expected to assist LHDs with contact tracing, case investigation and exposure notification related to outbreaks or clusters in schools as determined by the LHD. K-12 schools should continue to follow ODH’s protocol, “Mask to Stay, Test to Play,” and allow asymptomatic students to attend school while wearing a mask if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The best place for kids is in school, in-person, full-time.

    • ODH also will change the school case reporting cadence to weekly. Schools should report positive student and staff cases to their LHDs by close of business on Fridays. LHDs will continue to report on the same weekly cadence. This schedule will begin on Friday, Feb. 4. ODH will continue to evaluate related school reporting requirements.

    LHDs should continue providing education and messaging to the general public about steps to take after exposure or a positive test. The attached flow chart may be shared with the public to explain how they should proceed after testing positive for COVID-19 or being exposed to someone who has COVID-19.

    This is also a good time to remind the public of mitigation strategies that work against transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases:

    • Please encourage people to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are the best prevention tool we have against severe illness and death.

    • Reinforce the importance of mask wearing, physical distancing, improving ventilation, hand washing, cough etiquette, testing, and staying home if you are sick.

    The flow chart

  • COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for you

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for you

    Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.

    Find Funeral Assistance information in your language:

    中文 | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt |Français | عربي | हिन्दी | Português | Pусский | Tagalog | Bengali

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline
    844-684-6333

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday – Friday
    9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

    Call this dedicated, toll-free phone number to complete your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application with a FEMA representative. Multilingual services are available.

    If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide the specific number assigned to you for service. It is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

    Get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process on our Funeral Assistance FAQ page.

    Funeral Assistance Policy

    On June 29, 2021, we amended the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic.Policy change FAQ

    Required Documents

    • Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and District of Columbia.
    • If the death certificate was issued between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This signed statement must provide an additional explanation, or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19.
    • If the death certificate occurred on or after May 17, 2020, the death certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19.

    If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive funds by direct deposit or a check by mail, depending on which option you chose when you applied for assistance.

    Additional Resources

    VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses (ASL Video)

    VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19-Related Funeral Expenses

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Individuals and Households Program Policy (Interim) (Version 2)

    Funeral Assistance FAQ

    FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths Press Release |

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Flyer

    (Last updated January 25, 2022)

  • Please help with this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry

    Please help with this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry

    Loveland, Ohio – Here are this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry. It’s easy to donate. Learn how HERE.

    Deodorant

    Baby Wipes

    Cereal

    Bisquick

    Canned Stew

    Canned Chili

    Spaghetti Sauce

    Canned Fruit

    Mayonnaise

    Regular Coffee

  • Todd Jordon family didn’t get the break we prayed for – Now you can help

    Todd Jordon family didn’t get the break we prayed for – Now you can help

    Paula and Todd Jordan toasting their 16th anniversary in 2019

    Loveland, Ohio – The “GoFundMe” page to help this Tiger family begins:

    “Hello Loveland family and friends, we have a Tiger family in need after the heartbreaking passing of Todd Jordon.”

    It continues…

    Beloved husband, father, son, uncle, friend, neighbor, and life-long resident of our beautiful Loveland, unfortunately, and shockingly passed away on January 20th, 2022. He was 52.

    A little bit about Todd, he was a devoted family man. He was a great husband to his wife Paula, who he loved dearly. He unconditionally loved and was ridiculously proud of his two kiddos, Isabella and Sebastian. He was devoted to his father, Ron Jordan, and checked on him daily. He was especially attentive after the loss of his mother he adored, Beth Jordan, a few years ago. He was an attentive and caring Uncle to many nieces and nephews. And he was true to his friends. He was a sincere, kind-hearted man. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely listened and cared about your response. And he gave the best hugs. He was quirky, fun, sometimes slightly ridiculous, and most definitely stubborn. He dreamed of Montana often as he loved the beauty of the state. And he had planned on taking his daughter, Isabella, there soon to get her situated with a summer job. 

    After a picture-perfect family Christmas, Todd fell ill. The whole family did. Victims of this awful pandemic time. But while everyone else got better, Todd got worse and worse. Todd had bladder cancer last year which made his fight with Covid a difficult one. After being hospitalized he, sadly, succumbed to his illness in the early evening of January 20 with family by his side. He passed peacefully. 

    Todd had been laid off from his job due to Covid and downsizing of his department a couple of months before the Holidays putting a strain on the family’s finances which makes this even more difficult. He had no life or health insurance. His wife Paula, unfortunately, has been in a series of accidents that limits her ability to work consistently.

    Any help that can be provided to assist the family with celebrating his life and helping with the financial difficulties of losing a husband and father will be greatly appreciated.

    Read more about Todd and his surviving family at GoFundMe.

  • Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 23, 2022

    Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 23, 2022

    Loveland, Ohio – At the beginning of each week, the Loveland City School District releases their latest Covid 19 Dashboard.

     
     
     
     

    Note the correction to the 10/3/ report and that community cases increased from 51 to 62.

     
     

     

     
  • Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

    Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

    The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Ohioans assistance with their home energy bills. This one-time benefit is applied directly to the customer’s utility bill or bulk fuel bill.

    Am I Eligible for HEAP?

    Ohioans with a household income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the program.

    For July 2021-May 2022, the income levels are:

    Size of HouseholdTotal Household Income 12 Months
    1up to $22,540
    2up to $30,485
    3up to $38,430
    4up to $46,375
    5up to $54,320
    6up to $62,265
    7up to $70,210
    8up to $78,155

    For households with more than eight (8) members, add $7,945 for each additional member. A household applying for HEAP must report total gross household income for the past 30 days (12 months preferred) for all members, except wage or salary income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old. Both homeowners and renters are eligible for assistance.

    How do I Apply?

    Complete an application

    For more information

    To learn more call (800) 282-0880
    For the hearing-impaired dial 711

  • You can get a truly FREE credit report

    You can get a truly FREE credit report

    Your credit report affects your ability to get a loan or job, and could help you avoid identity theft. You can get a truly free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.

  • It’s official: Get free COVID test kits – Now order by phone

    It’s official: Get free COVID test kits – Now order by phone

    There’s a new federal resource to get free FDA-authorized coronavirus test kits. At COVIDtests.gov, you’ll find information about testing and a link to the U.S. Postal Service – special.usps.com/testkits – where you can order up to four rapid tests to be sent to your home address. Or order your kits by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Your kits will be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service within 7 to 12 days.

    The tests are completely free. There are no shipping costs, and you don’t have to give a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and address. Once you place an order, you’ll get an order confirmation number. If you give your email address, you’ll also get an order confirmation email and delivery updates. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. So, remember:

    • Go to COVIDtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to order your free COVID test kits from the federal government. Online, if you click to order, you’ll be redirected to special.usps.com/testkits. If you follow a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser’s address bar.
    • No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Only a scammer will contact you, asking for information like your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

    Please share this information with others

    If you spot a scammer offering COVID test kits, tell the FTC about it right away at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Or, file a complaint with your state or territory attorney general at consumerresources.org, the consumer website of the National Association of Attorneys General. Your reports can make a difference by helping us investigate, bring law enforcement cases, and alert people about what frauds to be on the lookout for so they can protect themselves, their friends, and family.

  • Superintendent: Why there were no quarantined students or staff in Loveland Schools last week

    Superintendent: Why there were no quarantined students or staff in Loveland Schools last week

    by David Miller

    Loveland, Ohio – After publishing the Loveland School District’s latest COVID 19 Dashboard on Tuesday, January 18, many readers wondered how there could be so many positive cases in the schools but zero students or staff who were quarantined.

    In an email yesterday I asked Superintendent Mike Broadwater: “I have a question that has come up after we published the latest COVID 19 Dashboard image yesterday. People are wondering why there were no quarantine figures on it.”

    Broadwater answered via email saying, “In regards to the Dashboard, there are no more quarantines with the new guidelines set forth by ODH (Ohio Department of Health). The only time you will see a quarantine would be if the family opts to quarantine their child rather than mask to stay. You’ll notice all zeroes with the exception of a few single quarantines since the new guidelines were released.”

    New CDC Guidelines were implemented 1/3/2022 and are reflected in subsequent reporting.

    Readers can view all of the COVID 19 Dashboard reports at this LINK.

    The current District quarantine and mask policy is found on the District website and states:

    Effective November 1, 2021

    The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has made a few minor changes to the quarantine recommendations for K-12 schools, and these new guidelines should help us keep our students healthy and in the classroom, where they learn best. 

    These guidelines will not change our current masking policy, but will change how we handle situations where a student has been identified as a “close contact/direct contact.” 

    Mask to Stay/Test to Play

    Direct contacts, regardless of vaccination or masking status, may remain in the classroom environment if they do the following:

    • Wear a mask for 14 days after their last date of exposure.
    • Self-monitor, or parent-monitor, for symptoms of COVID-19.
    • Isolate and get tested if they start to experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 (regardless of the level of severity).
    • Consistent with guidance for others quarantining in lower-risk environments, students and staff may discontinue these quarantine procedures after seven days – if they don’t develop symptoms and test negative between days 5-7.

    Direct contacts may continue to participate in extracurricular activities if they do the following:

    • Wear a mask when able. (This includes: transportation; locker rooms; sitting/standing on the sidelines; and anytime the mask will not interfere with breathing, the activity, or create a safety hazard.)
    • Test on initial notification of exposure to COVID-19.
    • Test again on days 5-7. If they are negative at this time, they will test out of quarantine.

    You can read the full policy from the Ohio Department of Health by following this link. 

    We believe the guidance from ODH will keep our students safe, and in school as much as possible, which has been our goal this year.

  • Obtenga pruebas caseras gratuitas de COVID-⁠19

    Obtenga pruebas caseras gratuitas de COVID-⁠19

    Todos los hogares de EE.UU. son elegibles para ordenar 4 pruebas caseras gratuitas de COVID-⁠19. Las pruebas son gratuitas. Las pruebas serán enviadas en un plazo de 7 a 12 días a partir del pedido.

    Pida sus pruebas ahora para tenerlas cuando las necesite.

    Si necesita una prueba de inmediato, consulte otros lugares donde puede realizarse pruebas de forma gratuita en su área.