New coronavirus cases remain low in Ohio

New cases of coronavirus remained low Monday in Ohio following one of the lowest days of new cases in weeks.

Another 775 Ohioans tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday. It marks the second-lowest day of new cases in three weeks, behind only the 613 reported Sunday, according to the Ohio

Department of Health.

Before Sunday, the last time cases fell below 800 per day was June 30. Monday’s new cases were also below a three-week average of 1,137 new cases reported a day, state data shows.

In total, 109,062 Ohioans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March.

More than 1.8 million tests for the virus have been administered in Ohio so far.

The average positive test rate for Ohioans for the virus over the past seven days fell to 4.6% as of Saturday, the most recent day for which data is available, according to the state health department. June 23 was the last time the average positive test rate was that low.

Newly reported deaths also remained low Monday with just six reported by the state. That’s well below the average of 23 new deaths reported per day over the past three weeks.

Another 83 Ohioans were hospitalized by Monday, which is below a three-week average of 97 new COVID-19 hospitalizations a day. New admissions to intensive care units were even with the three-week average of 15, according to the state.

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, Franklin County remains the hardest hit. As of Monday, Franklin County reported 19,683 cases and 537 deaths, according to the state health department.

Cuyahoga County has the secondhighest number of cases with 14,418 and the second-highest death count at 528. Hamilton County has the third most cases with 10,184 while Lucas County has the third-highest number of deaths at 329, state data shows.

Gov. Mike Dewine did not host a briefing on the virus Monday. But Dewine said last week that he plans to make an announcement on high school sports Tuesday.

Although many Ohio students will return to school online this fall, those who will return to the classrooms will be required to wear masks.

Over the weekend, the Ohio Department of Health said clear plastic face shields would not meet the state’s order requiring facial coverings in schools. The state health department’s clarification came after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance recommending against face shields as mask substitutes.

When asked about the guidance, health department spokeswoman Melanie Amato referred to a press release from the state about the order.

Face shields can only be used in place of masks when a student with hearing impairments relies on lip reading for communications, according to the release. Other exemptions exist for students and staff members with disabilities but any time a mask isn’t being used, more attention must be given to social distancing and other preventative measures. mfilby@dispatch.com @Maxfilby