New coronavirus cases hold steady

Another 1,131 Ohioans tested positive for the coronavirus as of Friday.

Friday’s new cases were still below the most recent three-week average of 1,181 new cases per day, according to the Ohio Department of Health. So far, 106,557 Ohioans have been diagnosed with the virus.

More than 1.77 million COVID-19 tests have been administered throughout Ohio.

The rate at which Ohioans tested positive for the virus over the past seven days held steady at 5% Wednesday, the most recent day for which data is available, according to the state health department. Before Tuesday, the last time the positive rate was that low was June 27.

An additional 29 COVID-19 deaths were reported Friday, which is above a three-week average of 23 new deaths reported per day, state data show. The total number of Ohioans who have died of the virus stands at 3,784.

Another 105 Ohioans were hospitalized for the disease by Friday. That’s just a few above a three-week average of 98 new hospitalizations per day.

Twelve more people were admitted to intensive care units across the state Friday. The new ICU admissions were a few below the three-week average of 16 new admissions per day, according to the state.

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, Franklin County has reported the most cases and deaths. Franklin County reported 19,287 cases and 533 deaths as of Friday.

Cuyahoga County is the secondhardest hit with 14,120 cases and 523 deaths since the pandemic began in

March. At 10,001, Hamilton County has the third-highest number of cases, while Lucas County has the third-most deaths with 324, according to the state.

Gov. Mike Dewine did not host a briefing on the virus Friday, but Thursday evening his administration released two reports detailing its efforts to combat racism and remove racial disparities in public health.

The reports were developed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. African Americans make up around 14% of Ohio’s population but close to 19% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.

One report details 34 recommendations for improving health in communities of color. They cover a wide range of areas, including everything from bolstering access to transportation, education and health care police reform and better collection of health data.

One of the report’s recommendations suggests Ohio look to decrease its prison population by requiring “justice to be served in the community.”

The state, the reports says, should also implement policies that prevent evictions and would in turn provide more stable housing. Another recommendation calls on the state to promote the expansion of internet access in minority communities.

To hold officials accountable, the report states actions taken to complete the recommendations should be reviewed annually and tracked and published on an Ohio Department of Health website. mfilby@dispatch.com @Maxfilby