Ohio’s new coronavirus cases down slightly
Another 895 Ohioans tested positive for the coronavirus Monday, bringing the total number of cases throughout the state to 123,157.
Monday’s cases were below the three-week average of 1,020 new cases per day, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
More than 2.23 million COVID-19 tests have been administered throughout the state since the pandemic began in March. The average positive test rate for Ohioans over the previous seven days remained at 4.4% on Saturday, the most recent day for which data is available, according to the state health department.
Deaths on Monday rose by 10, which is below a three-week average of 22 new deaths reported per day. So far, 4,138 Ohioans have died of COVID-19, state data shows.
About 91% of Ohioans killed by the virus were age 60 or older.
As of Monday, another 59 Ohioans were hospitalized, which is lower than the three-week average of 83 new hospitalizations per day. Admissions to intensive care units rose by seven, which was also lower than the three-week average of 13 new ICU admissions a day, according to the state.
Around 774 people were currently hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, including 224 in ICUS and 140 on ventilators.
Newly reported cases, deaths and hospitalizations are often delayed because of the weekend, Gov. Mike Dewine has said. Over the past several weeks, both the number of cases and deaths have shown to pick up as the week progresses.
Franklin County remains one of the hardest hit in Ohio. As of Monday, Franklin County reported 21,785 cases and 562 deaths, according to the state.
Cuyahoga County reported the most deaths with 575 and the second-highest number of cases at 15,714.
Dewine did not host a briefing on the virus Monday. mfilby@dispatch.com @Maxfilby
Kaishawn Watts, 22, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Perniel Hook, 17.
The incident began in the 800 block of S. Weyant Avenue at 6:20 p.m., in the area of Watts’ residence. Watts is accused of shooting at a car in which Hook was a passenger. At least six shots were fired at the intersection of East Livingston and Zettler Avenues.
The driver of the car Hook was in traveled west on East Livingston Avenue, trying to get to a hospital. The driver stopped at East Livingston Avenue and Linwood Avenue on the South Side, where a medic took Hook to the hospital, Columbus police said.
Hook died the next day and Columbus police homicide detectives filed charges against Watts on Aug. 12. jwoods@dispatch.com @Woodsnight