Lima, OH (WLIO) - A club that helps people improve one of the most important skills in any career held an open house Thursday evening.

The Board of Health announcing that Brandon Fischer will be taking over the helm as current Health Commissioner Kathy Luhn Is retiring at the end of September. Fischer is no stranger to the health department as he has been very involved during the pandemic as the health district’s emergency planner. Fischer is looking forward and is ready to be the next health commissioner and Luhn says she is leaving knowing the district is in good hands.

Ohio has been seeing a continuous rise in COVID-19 cases over recent weeks, but within younger age ranges. Earlier during the pandemic, those 60 years and older accounted for the most COVID cases in Ohio. Now, those 40 years and younger make up most new illnesses. The Allen County Health Commissioner, Kathy Luhn, says this could be caused by the virus' variants, and more relaxed contact among family and friend groups. Higher vaccination rates in the 60+ age range could also account for these changes. From December to April alone, cases in the group are said to have dropped 90%.

The Health District Advisory Council in Allen County met in Lima tonight for their annual Spring meeting. It was business as usual at the meeting, but those who attended got to visit where the new vaccination clinic will be held.

Allen County Health Commissioner Kathy Luhn has announced that she plans to retire in September of this year. Luhn has been with the health department since 1988 and has been Health Commissioner for the last nine years.

With Allen County experiencing its highest surge seen in Coronavirus cases, Allen County Public Health is shifting most of their focus to contact-tracing.

For the next week, staff at ACPH have been taken off their day-to-day tasks to work on contact-tracing. Allen County has had more than 600 cases in the last five days. That's more cases then the county saw all of August. The health commissioner says at that rate, they won't be able to keep up with contact-tracing. Most walk-in services will be closed except for scheduled immunizations, reproductive health and WIC clinic appointments.

Gov. Mike DeWine made a surprise visit to Allen County on Friday. Frankly, because he’s very concerned with the spread of the coronavirus in western Ohio. DeWine's first words when speaking to the news media was west Ohio has a significant spread of COVID-19. Friday marked the highest daily new cases in the state since the start of the pandemic, over 1,800 cases.

According to Allen County Public Health, the increasing spread of COVID-19 in the county can be attributed to community spread. Large gatherings, traveling to and from high-risk areas, and not isolating if tested positive for coronavirus, are all factors that led Allen County to become red. The Allen County Health Commissioner is asking the community to go back to what they have been asked since the beginning of the pandemic. Wear a mask, maintain distance from others, and wash your hands.

There is a slight cause for concern at Allen County Public Health as the most recent numbers are reported. In the first two weeks of July, there have been 92 new cases of COVID-19 identified. That's more than all the cases reported in June, which was 81.

"It is important that people social distance," Kathy Luhn said, health commissioner. "We are promoting all the outside activities that we can. So it is definitely a concern if as fall and winter come, were closer together, more indoors. Just not sure what to expect. We need everybody to step up 

and do what they can."

It’s been nearly two months that we’ve been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio takes a step forward on Friday opening some businesses. So, Allen County Public Health, the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce, and both Lima hospitals tell us where we’ve been and how we go forward. May 1 marks the opening of dentists, veterinarians, and people may now get elective procedures done with their health care provider, as long as it doesn’t require an overnight stay.