The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Vaccine rollout phase 1B begins locally
COVID-19 numbers pushing 15,000 in county
As phase 1B vaccine rollout began Jan. 18 in Lorain County, novel coronavirus cases have reached nearly 14,500 in the county as of Jan. 15.
Before the weekend, the county’s total case toll was 14,435 confirmed with 185 deaths, with 95 deaths being of those 85 years or older, according to Lorain County Public Health.
As of the end of last week, cases excluding prison inmates and longterm care residents in the county dipped slightly after a spike at the beginning of the month.
Each township and city in the county has similar percentage of total county infection rates versus percentage of county population, according to County Public Health data last updated Jan. 15.
The cities of Lorain, Elyria and North Ridgeville have the highest rate of positive cases in the county, with 22.98 percent, 16.91 percent and 12.29 percent, respectively.
Lorain makes up 20 percent, Elyria 16.84 percent and North Ridgeville 10.7 percent of the county’s population.
The lowest rates of positive cases in Lorain County are among the smallest communities, which include Rochester Village, Kipton Village and Rochester Township, with both Rochester and Kipton townships with .05 percent and the township with .16 percent.
Their populations land at .05 percent, .07 percent and .25 percent, respectively.
As for vaccine rollout, the new phase being introduced this week will make 2.2 million people in the state eligible, according to officials at the Ohio Department of Health.
This week, those who are 80 years and older are eligible for the vaccine.
Next week, those 75 years and older, as well as those with severe congenital or developmental disorders, will be eligible.
In the week of Feb. 1, those 70 years and old, as well as employees of K-12 schools who wish to either remain or return to in-person learning will be eligible.
Finally, in the week of Feb. 8, Ohioans 65 years and older will be eligible.