New cases of virus stay flat in Ohio

Another 844 Ohioans tested positive for the coronavirus as of Tuesday, putting new cases nearly level with those reported the day before.

Tuesday’s caseload was below the three-week average of 1,019. So far, 116,495 Ohioans have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

More than 2 million virus tests have been administered throughout Ohio.

The average positive test rate for Ohioans over the previous seven days ticked up slightly to 4.1% as of Sunday, the most recent day for which data are available, according to the state health department. On Saturday, the rate was at 4%.

Ten more Ohioans were reported to have died of the virus by Tuesday, which is lower than a three-week average of 20 new deaths reported per day, according to the state health department. Since the pandemic began in March, 3,996 Ohioans have died.

Around 91% of people the virus has killed were 60 or older, according to the state health department.

An additional 97 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state as of Tuesday. That’s more than a threeweek average of 87 new hospitalizations per day, according to the state.

Admissions to intensive care units were even with the three-week average of 15 new ones per day on Tuesday. As of Tuesday, around 783 Ohioans were hospitalized, including 250 in ICUS and 150 on ventilators.

Gov. Mike Dewine hosted a virus briefing Tuesday but did not unveil any new orders or major announcements.

With regard to the coming convergence of the fall influenza season and the continuing spread of COVID-19, Dewine said he hoped more Ohioans would get the flu vaccine. He said the state may make a bigger public push for Ohioans to get the flu vaccine because of the ongoing pandemic.

The governor on Tuesday also sought to clarify an order on sporting events his office issued last week.

The order limited attendance at outdoor sporting events to 15% of capacity or 1,500, whichever is less. Indoor events face a similar limit of 15% of capacity or 300, whichever is less, according to the state.

The purpose of the capacity limit was to allow for one to four family members to attend events athletes are participating in, Dewine said.

Separately, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Tuesday said a survey of antibody testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Health is nearly complete.

The idea of an antibody testing survey is to see what percentage of the population might have already had COVID-19. Although the state is still awaiting the results of its own study, Husted said the American Red Cross reported that about 2.2% of Ohioans who donated blood have the antibodies.

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, Franklin County remains the hardest hit. As of Tuesday, Franklin County reported 20,794 cases and 554 deaths, state data show.

Cuyahoga County has the secondhighest number of cases at 15,088 and the second-most deaths with 552. Hamilton County has reported the third-highest number of cases at 10,663, while Lucas County has the third-most deaths with 339, according to the state. mfilby@dispatch.com @Maxfilby