Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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I would like to start this week by offering my condolences to the families of everyone who has lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Nationwide, nearly 27,000 people have been confirmed as COVID-19 deaths. There are another 4,141 probable COVID-19 deaths nationwide, according to the CDC.
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Those are staggering numbers. Here in Lucas Country, as of today, we have lost 28 people in our community. Among those lost here in Toledo is Carmen Williamson, a Toledo legend who was one of the best amateur boxers in the country. I hope Mr. Williamson's family will accept the city's condolences.
There is nothing that can be said to lessen the pain for those who are grieving. Our hearts also go out to those who are sick and fighting the virus.
I know in my heart that our community will emerge from this crisis stronger. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: "We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon." As many know, FDR is my favorite president and I think his words are applicable to us today. There will be an end to this crisis.
Ohio has been a leader in the fight against COVID-19 and Toledoans are doing their part. I want to thank you and implore everyone to continue social distancing and staying at home to help save lives.
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We announced yesterday, during a
virtual news conference
,
that 326 city employee positions will be placed on temporary emergency leave to address the budget shortfall due to the pandemic. This was not an easy thing to do.
The affected employees are extremely valued and did nothing wrong. T
he temporary emergency leaves will be reevaluated every 30 days.
The state of Ohio and the city of Toledo have declared states of emergency due to the pandemic. We are taking necessary steps to protect the safety and welfare of our employees and residents. We must also unfortunately implement these temporary emergency leave procedures in order to stabilize and manage the city’s finances, similar to other cities nationwide.
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Join me again next week for another virtual "Wednesdays with Wade," which we plan to continue weekly. You may participate and ask questions live on Facebook,
facebook.com/cityoftoledo
. The next one is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22.
Finally, you can read an updated list of city and other services affected by the pandemic at
this link
.
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Who are you staying home for? Share with us!
Staying at home and social distancing are the best defenses we have to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of our neighbors.
We are grateful for everyone staying home, and so are the loved ones of those on the front lines of this battle: our nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters, and our elderly.
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Our front line workers are heroes, but so is everyone who is staying home.
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Join our #ThankYouToledo campaign. Download and print the sign, draw on your tablet or smartphone, or create your own unique sign.
Tell us who you're staying home for, then take a selfie and post it on your social media platforms with the hashtag
#ThankYouToledo
.
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Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
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With Ohio residents asked to stay home and discouraged from making nonessential trips, many patients have been unable to access the care they may need. The health department’s RHWC team has worked around the clock to implement a new telehealth program and will start virtual visits via telephone only, on Monday, April 20.
Telehealth services will be available on Mondays and Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., by appointment only. Those in need of an appointment are asked to call 419-213-4209, provide contact information and an appointment time will be confirmed once a RHWC employee returns a call. Walk-ins are not permitted during this time.
“Existing patients, new patients, those who may be engaging in risky behavior, have the access to care and information they need, now through telehealth,” said Dr. J. A. Smith, medical director. “We want to ensure those patients with the greatest need, have access to care, while reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 through social distancing efforts.”
Shots 4 Tots n Teens will be operational throughout the month of April on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, also by appointment only. Please call 419-508-9610 to schedule a Shots 4 Tots n Teens appointment, walk-ins are not permitted at this time.
Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) at the Health Department’s downtown location, will start to operate Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only. Call 419-213-4422 with questions regarding WIC benefits.
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Visit
this page
for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Lucas County.
The 24/7 Lucas County COVID-19 Call Line Numbers are: 419-251-4000 (English only) and 419-291-5355 (multilingual).
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The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 website is
Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov
and the Ohio Department of Health hotline is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
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Parks, Recreation, and Forestry
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Toledo's Parks, Recreation, and Forestry employees are planting more than 100 trees over the next two weeks in the right-of-way and other public locations throughout the city.
The trees were purchased last year, in the fall.
They were stored over the winter since it got too cold, too quickly to safely plant them.
The species include Sugar Maple, Elm, Oak, Ginkgo, and Hackberry trees.
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Continue to call Engage Toledo at 419-936-2020 to report code violations such as illegal dumping.
The city will issue appropriate orders for high priority violations. Lower priority items will be held until after the stay-at-home order is lifted. The city will not issue violation notices unless it is a high priority. (High priority items include life safety issues, requests for Toledo Fire and Toledo Police, unsecured structures, immediate collapse or imminent danger, fire, emergency demolitions, and compromised structural integrity.)
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The Engage Toledo app lets you make service requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. We are committed to customer service.
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By The Numbers
(year to date)
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41,050
potholes filled
83
water main breaks repaired
434,497
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
7,093
feet of storm sewers cleaned
762
illegal signs removed
281
trees trimmed
17,180
tons of salt used
2,400
building inspections complete
1,306
contractor licences issued
1,608
fire runs
14,485
EMS runs
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FormLabs in Toledo part of Ohio effort to ramp up coronavirus testing
The swabs used to collect samples in the state of Ohio's accelerated coronavirus testing program will be manufactured in Toledo. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the effort Wednesday, saying FormLabs will be part of a statewide effort to 3D print 200,000 swabs by the end of April.
Boxing legend Carmen Williamson dies from coronavirus
Carmen Williamson had to fight for everything he earned in life. It’s why the Xenia, Ohio, native who grew up and stayed in Toledo, was naturally drawn to boxing — a sport he mastered while revered as one of the nation’s top amateur boxers throughout the 1940’s and 50’s. He loved the discipline of the sport, his friends and family said.
Photo Gallery: Buffalo Soldiers of Toledo hand out meals
The Buffalo Soldiers of Toledo started Operation "With Unity Feeding Our Community" to provide grab and go meals to residents in LMHA housing with the help of the Off The Rails food truck. They park and hand out meals from 10 am to 12 pm everyday in different LMHA housing locations around Toledo.
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