VITAL STATISTICS
BIRTHS
This list is compiled from voluntary submissions by parents to hospitals. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (MARYSVILLE)
Mamer, Reagan and Luke: girl, Feb. 19 MOUNT CARMEL GROVE CITY
Austin, Kelsey and Garrett: girl, Feb. 21
Janci, Natasha and Joseph: boy, Feb. 11
Luster, Haley and Gary: girl, Feb. 20
Newlon, Brittany and Rick: boy, Feb. 18
Newman, Sierra: boy, Feb. 15
Ripper, Kelsey and Mark: boy, Feb. 15
Somobwana, Fowzia: boy, Feb. 13 OHIOHEALTH RIVERSIDE METHODIST HOSPITAL
Bailey, Erin/diedrich, Landon: boy, Feb. 20
Bartkowiak, Morgan and Derek: girl, Feb. 21
Haimerl, Katherine/murphy, Andrew: girl, Feb. 21
Lewis, Hannah and Joel: boy, Feb. 19
Louderback, Allison and Pete: girl, Feb. 22
Mcdermott, Kate and Bob: girl, Feb. 21
Minton, Allyson: boy, Feb. 20
Quansah, Efua: boy, Feb. 19
Rysz, Amanda and Justin: boy, Feb. 19
Scheltens, Elizabeth/nye, Michael: girl, Feb. 21
Vanderveer, Delana/gilmore, Andrew: girl, Feb. 21
Wellman, Lindsey and Jordan: boy, Feb. 20
BLOOD DRIVES
The American Red Cross has an ongoing need for donors of all blood types. Donors can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or go to redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment. Blood drives are open today at:
Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Rd., 12:15 -7:30 p.m.
Dublin Community Church, 81 W. Bridge St., Dublin, 1-6 p.m.
Jackson Township Administration Office, 3756 Hoover Rd., Grove City, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Ave., Oak Creek Building, Lewis Center, 12:15 -7:15 p.m.
Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, 30 West Woodruff Ave., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane, Gahanna, 12:15 -7:30 p.m.
Whetstone Metropolitan Library @ North Broadway United Methodist Church, 48 E. Broadway, 1-6 p.m.
The coronavirus strain that was discovered in the United Kingdom last fall was found for the first time in Hamilton County, officials said on Feb. 22.
There have been 11 cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 in Ohio across six counties.
"Exactly how much B.1.1.7. is either in Ohio or in the rest of the country is not clear, but the evidence would suggest that we're early in the B.1.1.7 growth," Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said Thursday. He said B.1.1.7 would become Ohio's "dominant variant by the time we get into late March and early April."
At a time when the state is seeing a drop off in COVID-19 cases as 1-in-8 Ohioans have now reportedly received the vaccine, the new strain is starting to spread.
Here's what you need to know about the UK variant strain in Ohio.
The first reported UK variant cases in Ohio was in January
The first case found in Ohio was in early January according to a CDC report.
Also in January, scientists at Ohio State determined that different, but similar, strains of the UK variant had become the dominant virus in Columbus during a three-week period from December to January.
Which Ohio counties have seen the UK variant?
The positive cases have been confirmed in six counties as of Feb. 22:
h Cuyahoga (4 cases)
h Hamilton (1 case)
h Lorain (2 cases)
h Medina (2 cases)
h Portage (1 case)
h Ross (1 case)
The cases range in age from 2-83. All variant cases of COVID-19 have to be reported to the Ohio Department of Health. The department then sends these to the CDC for confirmation.
B.1.1.7 is the official name of the UK variant strain
The official name of the virus is B.1.1.7. It is one of a handful of coronavirus strains to be found worldwide.
No other foreign virus variants, including those from Brazil and South Africa, have been reported in Ohio among the 27 combined cases found nationally, according to the CDC.
It is called the UK variant because the first cases were reported in September in London. By December of 2020, the strain was responsible for 60% of the cases in that country.
Are the COVID-19 vaccinations effective on the UK variant?
Yes.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have shown to work against the variant. However, doctors are still urging people to follow the health guidelines established in the early days of the pandemic: social distancing and wearing a mask.
That said, research is still happening, and some say the vaccine could become less effective as the variants continue to mutate.
Where was the first reported UK variant strain in the U.S.?
Colorado reported the first UK variant in December. It was found in two National Guard soldiers.
What other countries have seen coronavirus variants?
Along with the UK, South Africa and Brazil have seen variants. Dr. Anthony Fauci said recently that the COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the South African variant.
None have been found in Ohio as of Feb. 22.
What is the Columbus variant?
On Jan. 13, Ohio State researchers discovered two new strains that were similar to the UK variant.
The Wexner Medical Center has been sequencing the genome of SARSCOV-2 viruses in patients with COVID-19 since March to monitor the evolution of the virus.
Like the U.K. virus strain, the mutations that were detected in both viruses affect the spikes that stud the surface of it. The spikes give the coronavirus its name and enable the virus to attach to and enter human cells.
Where is the COVID-19 virus hitting the hardest in Ohio
While cases are trending downward in Ohio, here is the map of recent COVID-19 cases in Ohio.