CLEVELAND — Editor's Note: The above video is from a previously published story on the local impact of COVID-19
Just days into his new administration, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb is focusing on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with a series of announcements made on Thursday.
In a release, the city says Bibb plans to announce a new COVID-19 policy for Cleveland 'as early as next week.' No other details on the policy were provided.
In addition, the new mayor has appointed a group of public health experts, hospital CEOs, elected officials, and others to serve on a special COVID-19 task force. The task force will meet weekly to address case surges, review current data, and provide important information for the community.
“COVID-19 cases are rising across the city and the health and safety of our community is a top priority,” Bibb said in a statement. “This taskforce will advise us on strategies and public policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, encourage vaccinations, and promote awareness of available resources.”
The following people will join Bibb on the city's COVID-19 task force:
- Terry Allan (Cuyahoga County Board of Health)
- Elise Hara Auvil (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Dr. Akram Boutros (MetroHealth Medical Center)
- Armond Budish (Cuyahoga County)
- Nicole Carlton (Emergency Medical Services)
- Dr. Karen Cooper (Department of Public Health)
- Bradford Davy (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Eric Gordon (Cleveland Municipal School District)
- Blaine Griffin (Cleveland City Council)
- Mark Griffin (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Karrie D. Howard (Department of Public Safety)
- Sarah Johnson (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Pernel Jones (County Council President)
- Dr. Larry Macon, Sr. (Mount Zion Church of Oakwood Village)
- Dr. Cliff Megerian (University Hospitals)
- Dr. Tom Mijahlevic (Cleveland Clinic)
- Selina Pagan (Young Latino Network)
- Paul Patton (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Ryan Puente (City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office)
- Elaine Tso (Asian Services In Action, Inc.)
- Dr. Bob Wiley (Cleveland Clinic)
Thursday's announcement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the area and the state amid the omicron variant. The Ohio Department of Health reported over 19,000 new cases in the past 24 hours.
More Headlines:
- Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb meets with tenants at West Side Market
- COVID-19 in Ohio: State reports 19,442 new cases in the last 24 hours
- UH officials hopeful Northeast Ohio may have peaked with Omicron
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District to return to in-person learning beginning January 10
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has a message for schools amid COVID surge: Mandate masks