Ohio’s count of new coronavirus cases once again exceeds 8,000
Ohio marked 8,133 newly reported coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 351,419.
The state has been averaging a positivity rate of 13.5% over the past seven days. Data for the last recorded day was Friday with a rate of 13.9%.
Case numbers have been edging higher in the past week, averaging between 7,000 and about 8,000 cases each day. The state has continued a trend of increasing cases, prompting Gov. Mike Dewine to enact a statewide overnight curfew in hopes of getting case numbers to drop.
On Sunday, Ohio reported 12 new deaths and 205 hospitalizations. A total of 24,423 people have been reported as hospitalized. A total of 5,996 people have died. That’s lower compared with 29 deaths reported on Saturday and 260 hospitalizations.
There also were 24 patients reported as new admissions to hospital intensive care units on Sunday, bringing the state’s total to 4,418.
The case total doesn’t account for a backlog of about 12,000 less-reliable rapid antigen tests that the state is double-checking. The state always verifies those tests, but the number performed on a daily basis has exploded from hundreds to thousands, making it difficult to check within 24 hours. A majority of those tests are expected to come back positive, officials said.
Franklin County, which has led the state in the number of infections, had a total of 48,389 cases and 665 deaths as of Sunday. Franklin is followed by Cuyahoga County, which had totals of 34,096 cases and the most deaths with 734.
Franklin County was elevated to “purple” on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 mapping system, which means there is a high incidence level of spreading.
Columbus and Franklin County officials issued an advisory similar to DeWine’s last week, urging residents to remain home – except for work, school and essential trips – for four weeks beginning at 6 p.m. Friday because of spiking COVID-19 cases.
With Thanksgiving just three days away, officials are encouraging people to give up their holiday plans in hopes of further limiting the spread.
Dewine’s order, which began on Friday, limits Ohioans from going out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. until Dec. 10. Ohioans are supposed to stay at home during those orders unless they are seeking medical treatment, picking up takeout food, going to work or taking care of other essential needs, such as grocery shopping. bburger@dispatch.com @Bybethburger
With Thanksgiving just three days away, officials are encouraging people to give up their holiday plans in hopes of further limiting the spread.