Lake County sees cases spike

Lake County’s total number of novel coronavirus cases increased by 205 between Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, according to data from the Lake County General Health District.

Since early April, the health district has released weekly COVID-19 data reports. The reports are released every Wednesday morning with the total number of coronavirus cases as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The 205 cases is the largest increase the county has seen in a week, surpassing the 180 new cases reported between July 1421. The statewide mask order went into effect July 23.

As of 2 p.m., Oct. 27, Lake County now has 2,089 total COVID-19 cases. There have now been 201 total hospitalizations, 44 ICU admissions and 60 deaths in the county associated with COVID-19, according to the health district’s data.

Of the 2,089 total cases, the Ohio Department of Health presumes that 1,664 people have recovered.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said at his Oct. 27 news conference that 82 of the state’s 88 counties are considered high incidence (greater than 100 cases per 100,000 population). Lake County currently has an incidence rate of 111.7 cases per

100,000 population, the health district stated in its Oct. 28 COVD-19 situation report.

When last reported Oct. 22, Lake County’s incidence rate was 68.7. Only eight counties currently have a lower incidence rate than Lake County, according to ODH data.

DeWine recommended that those in high incidence counties reconsider hosting or attending gatherings of any size.

That includes canceling (or not going to) Halloween parties.

He also recommended wearing masks inside and outside when you can’t social distance and staying home if you’re not well.

The governor has said that social gatherings and family get-togethers continue to drive COVID-19 transmission.

“The spread (of the novel coronavirus) is not so much in workplaces, not so much in classrooms...but it’s when people are doing more casual things, getting together (with friends and family),” DeWine said at an

Oct. 19 press conference in Cleveland, adding that it’s in informal settings when people are letting their guard down.

“It’s human nature, I think.”

Trunk or Treat update

On Oct. 15 the Lake County General Health District announced that a person attending the Oct. 11 Trunk or Treat event at Classic Park in Eastlake tested positive for COVID-19. The health department stated the individual was in attendance from 6 to 8 p.m., and was not experiencing symptoms at the time.

Symptoms began to develop on Oct. 12, making it possible the person was contagious while at the event.

The health department urged those who attended to monitor themselves for symptoms.

The health district reported that as of Oct. 27, a second person who attended the event had tested positive.

However, “this person had exposure to others with COVID-19, therefore it is unknown where transmission occurred,” the health district stated.