COVID-19 UK variant is in 6 Ohio counties
The more-infectious variant of coronavirus first detected in the United Kingdom is beginning to pop up in Ohio while state officials warn it will be weeks before the next round of older Ohioans are eligible for vaccinations.
Officials worry the variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, could become a dominant, faster-spreading strain of COVID-19 and derail progress in slowing virus cases, which have dropped more than 80% from their December peaks.
Ohio officials report the variant now has surfaced in six counties, with 11 cases reported in Cuyahoga (4 cases), Lorain and Medina (2 cases each) and Hamilton, Ross and Portage counties (1 case each).
Gov. Mike Dewine says Ohioans age 60 to 64 will be the next group afforded virus vaccinations, but the state must pause for weeks to get shots to a backlog among 2 million older Ohioans age 65 and above who can now obtain doses. State figures show 60% of Ohioans age 80 and above now have been vaccinated, followed by 50% for ages 75 to 69, 37% for ages 70 to 74 and 23% for ages 60 to 64.
Here’s a look at Ohio’s COVID-19 numbers on Tuesday:
h New deaths: 94
h Total deaths since start of the pandemic: 16,968
h New confirmed and cases: 2,775
h Total cases since start of the pandemic: 958,153
h Current hospitalizations: 1,359
h Cumulative hospital admissions: 49,651
h Seven-day average PCR positivity rate: 4.9%
h People vaccinated with at least one dose: 1,474,872 or 12.62% of the population
h People fully vaccinated: 707,396 or 6.05% of the population rludlow@dispatch.com @Randyludlow probable
Columbus police have identified the man who was shot multiple times Monday afternoon by another motorist on Interstate 70 eastbound near Downtown.
Bruce Prowell, 28, of the South Side, was hospitalized in critical condition after a shooting on the freeway near the Interstate 71 interchange. The shooting was reported before noon Monday on I-70 eastbound near Alum Creek Drive, according to police, who temporarily shut down the eastbound lanes while investigating.
Officers who responded to the scene found Prowell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the left side of his body. The man was taken to Ohiohealth Grant Medical Center for surgery, and has since been upgraded to stable condition.
Prowell told police that a male suspect driving a blue Toyota SUV pulled up alongside him and fired multiple gunshots at him.
Police said they do not believe the shooting was random.
Police said Prowell continued further along eastbound I-70 before stopping and calling for help.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Deryl Kowalski of the Columbus police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4189 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614461-TIPS (8477).
bbruner@dispatch.com