According to a map published by the Ohio Department of Health, Muskingum County has once again risen to a “Level 2 Public Emergency.”

That classification means that the county is experiencing increased exposure and spread.

The last update by the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department on Tuesday, August 4 showed that 13 additional Muskingum County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.

There are currently a total of 208 confirmed cases, with 42 of those considered active.

Under a level-two public emergency, residents are urged to take the following precautions:

• Conduct daily health/symptoms assessment and stay at home if symptomatic
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.
• Increase caution when interacting with others not practicing social distancing or wearing face covering.
• Avoid traveling to high-risk areas
• Follow good hygiene
• Wash hands frequently
• Use hand sanitizer frequently
• Avoid touching your face
• Avoid contact with anyone who is considered high risk

Additionally, those at high-risk for developing COVID-19 are advised to:

• Decrease in-person interactions outside the household
• Seek medical care as needed, but limit or avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, nursing homes and residential care facilities as much as possible

Locally, the Muskingum County Joint Unified Command is advising the public to take extra steps to ensure safety within the community. As a level-two county, the command is warning that there is now a significant increase in risk for contracting COVID-19.