24/7 Contact Information
To report a public health emergency or reportable disease, please call 740-532-3962. After-hours callers will be provided phone numbers of 2 staff members who can be reached 24/7.
Mission Statement
The Lawrence County Health Department is committed to monitoring community health status, identifying and addressing public health threats, enforcing laws that protect the public health, as well as providing services to prevent and control diseases.
Vision
Lawrence County residents will enjoy improved quality of life because of Lawrence County Health Department’s dedication to health promotion, health education, disease prevention, and environmental health protection.
Values/Guiding Principles
- Care for our community
- Respect for our clients regardless of their circumstances
- Commitment to public health
- Teamwork
- Qualified, experienced staff
- Health promotion
- Collaboration with community partners and stakeholder
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COVID-19
March 12, 2020
As of yesterday, the World Health Organization changed COVID-19 from an outbreak to a pandemic. There are currently 117 countries affected with a total of 125,048 confirmed cases and 4,613 deaths. In the United States, 43 states (including Washington DC) are reporting a total of 1,215 cases and 36 deaths. The fourth confirmed case in Ohio was announced yesterday, and Ohio has reported no deaths as a result of COVID-19. As of now, there are no confirmed cases in Lawrence County.
Pandemics have the potential to disrupt our lives, but we at Lawrence County Health Department are working non-stop with our state and local partners to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on our county. We have been in meetings with our EMA director, county commissioners, Ironton City Mayor and city government, Lawrence County Prosecutor, Lawrence County Sheriff, Ironton City Police, Ohio State Patrol, EMS, local hospitals, and school superintendents, and we have meetings scheduled with others in the upcoming days. We are also reaching out to the faith-based community. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page with the same information.
As new information about this disease emerges, guidance changes, and we understand this can be very confusing and seem chaotic at times. The most important things we can do are to remain calm, become educated, and most of all prepare and do what we can do to protect ourselves and our families. Remember that it’s still flu season, and flu is still widespread in every state but two. If you haven’t gotten a flu shot, there is still time to do that. Because COVID-19 is NOT a flu, a flu shot won’t help prevent it; however, it will help prevent flu, which will help keep you out of ER or urgent care, which will help protect you from other illnesses and keeps from overwhelming health care facilities.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will work. Clean frequently touched surfaces (door knobs, light switches, counters, bathroom fixtures) at least daily with an EPA-approved cleaner or with 1/3 cup bleach to a gallon of water. Regardless of the product, read directions to make sure the product is safe you and appropriate for the area you’re cleaning. Avoid contact with anyone who is sick. If you’re sick, please stay home. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or into a tissue and throw the tissue away. Try to avoid crowds. Social distancing is effective in stopping the spread of illness. If you’re sick enough to go to your doctor or ER, call ahead and let them know what your symptoms are, any travel you may have had, and whether or not you’ve had contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Do what you can to keep yourself and your family healthy. Think about what you might need to have on hand in the event you are too ill to go to the store or if stores are closed (or are out of essentials). Do you have enough food, water, medicine, pet food, hygiene products, and toilet paper to last 14 days?
Read, listen, and learn everything you can from the health experts about this illness to keep you and your family safe. A great resource is coronavirus.ohio.gov. This website may answer any questions you have. The Ohio Department of Health also has a call center, staffed with public health officials including licensed nurses and infectious disease experts. The call center will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Dr. Amy Acton, Director at ODH, is working closely with Governor DeWine to protect Ohio and provide guidance to our local health departments and our communities. Information from a news release yesterday includes the following recommendations:
· Cancel or postpone large, indoor gatherings due to the potential for COVID-19 exposure
· Higher Education: all universities and colleges in Ohio should screen students returning from international travel or cruises, including, but not limited to, students returning from spring break travel. Any university sponsored international travel, non-essential travel, and large gatherings should be canceled or postponed. Higher education institutions should also consider offering online/remote learning
· K-12 Schools: Governor DeWine is not currently recommending the closure of elementary, middle, and high schools; however, school administrators should begin planning for that possibility. Parents should also begin planning for the potential that they may need to stay home with their children or find alternative child care solutions.
· Athletics: Governor DeWine has recommended that all indoor high school, college, and professional sports competitions be held without spectators. He asks that events take place only with athletes, parents, sporting officials, and media. Right now, outdoor sporting events can continue as planned.
· General Large Gatherings: Generally, Governor DeWine recommends that organizers of any events involving a large gathering of individuals in close proximity be canceled or postponed, such as parades.
· Religious Institutions: Governor DeWine recommends that all religious institutions consider limiting practices that could spread germs, such as shaking hands or sharing a communal cup of wine during communion. Those in faith-based communities who are high-risk should consider staying home. Faith-based communities should also consider appropriate outreach to those who may not be able to attend regular services.
· Nursing Homes: Because nursing homes house Ohio’s most high-risk residents, we are recommending that nursing homes screen all visitors, including volunteers and vendors, for symptoms of contagious illnesses.
· Adult and Juvenile Correctional Facilities: Governor DeWine has ordered that visitations at Ohio’s adult and juvenile corrections facilities be suspended. Contractors who are not critical to the workings of the facility will not be granted entrance. Those who are permitted into these facilities will be screened for symptoms of illness and must submit to a temperature reading.
As I mentioned above, we are very committed to keeping our community safe. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have concerns.
Sincerely,
Georgia Dillon, APRN, CNP
Health Commissioner
CRIBS FOR KIDS
Lawrence County Health Department has partnered with the Cribs for Kids program to provide cribettes to infants who don't otherwise have a safe place to sleep. Eligibility guidelines include:
Must be a resident of Lawrence County
Must meet WIC income guidelines
3rd trimester (at least 32 weeks pregnant), or infant 12 months of age or younger
Infant doesn't already have a crib
Please call 740-532-3962 to make an appointment.
Click links below for education on safe sleep and infant mortality statistics
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Lawrence County Ohio Health Department
2122 S. 8th Street • Ironton, OH 45638
Phone: (740) 532-3962 • Fax: (740) 532-1014
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Lunch - 12-1 p.m.)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook: Lawrence County Health Dept.
Twitter: @lawrcohd
Board of Health Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. located at the Health Department. If changes are made notice will be posted here on our website.
March meeting-will be held on March 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. here at the Health Department.
2020 Food License 
We are excited to announce our live site to keep our residents up to date on local Retail Food Inspection results. We strive to find new ways to provide important information to residents.
Link is below for access. Click on the Health Department Food Inspections in the top left and locality options will be on the left side to click on and look around.
Lawrence County Inspections
Food Safety - Ohio Food Recall Announcements This section provides Ohioans information regarding primarily "class I" food product recall announcements. "Class I" food product recall announcements are defined by United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a situation in which use of or exposure to a volatile product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
The information regarding these announcements is obtained from information provided by the FDA and/or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with the company the recall affects. The Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Agriculture then jointly provide the Ohio recall announcement information.
To see these recalls, visit this site: Ohio Department Food Recall list
Food Safety Training in Ohio
Click link for different types of training information: Ohio Department of Health
Minimum training for Person in Charge at Risk Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 Food Service Operations and Retail Food Establishments
Level 1: Food Protection (Person in Charge)
Level 2: ODH-approved Food Protection manager's Training (15 hour classroom)
Minimum requirement: 1 person per establishment at Risk Levels 3 and 4 Food Service Operations and Retail Food Establishments
Contact Local Health Department for course dates/times
Please read......Permanent and Temporary Campgrounds 8/14/2018
CampgroundsCampgrounds in Ohio are regulated under the authority of Chapter 3729. of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and Chapter 3701-26 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). These rules were created to establish minimum standards, applicable throughout Ohio, for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of these facilities in order to protect the public from injury, minimize the potential for disease transmission, and provide a safe and healthy recreational environment. If you own or operate a resident camp, or have plans to so, contact the local health department to obtain permission to operate. Permanent campgrounds go through a Plan Review process with Ohio Department of Health which is a separate fee then our local license fee. Ironton City Temporary Campground Fee $75 New or unlicensed Camp-Park 50 sites or less $225 + Plan Review Fee New or unlicensed Camp-Park 50 + $1.40 per site + Plan Review Fee Renewal of Camps with no changes will only be charged the Local Health Department Fee TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT (choose one) New or Existing Unlicensed campgrounds : (Includes one inspection) New campgrounds are those that are being newly constructed.are those that are in operation but have never been licensed or had a license that has been expired for more than 12 months. Ohio Department of Health Plan Review Fee $1,898.00 Plan Review Fee Substantial Alteration limited in scope: (Includes one inspection) Any alteration to the campground that does not result in the movement or addition of any permanently placed facility, gray water recycling system, roadway, dump station, water connection or sewerage system. Ohio Department of Health Plan Review Fee $842.00 Substantial Alteration not limited in scope: (Includes one inspection) Some examples include expansion of campgrounds, movement of sites and adding or replacing gray water facilities. $1,546.00 Campground Types:
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ADULT SERVICES OFFERED AT LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT INCLUDE:
- ADULT IMMUNIZATIONS
- FLU, PNEUMONIA VACCINES
- FAMILY PLANNING
- STD TESTING/TREATMENT
- HIV TESTING
- PRENATAL CLINICS
- TB TESTING
Lawrence County Health Department was the lead agency for a Community Health Assessment completed in 2015. Please click here to access the report. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions or suggestions.
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