CORONAVIRUS CASES RISE

First reported increase after 10 consecutive weeks of decline

After 10 consecutive weeks of declining cases, Lake County saw its first weekly increase in novel coronavirus cases since January.

Between March 23 and March 30, there were 208 newly reported COVID-19 cases in Lake County up from 160 the week prior, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That’s the first increase in weekly reported cases since there were 1,146 reported between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, up from 1,045 cases the week prior.

As of 2 p.m., March 30, Lake County had 19,199 cumulative COVID-19 cases, 750 cumulative hospitalizations and 354 cumulative deaths. ODH presumes 18,310 Lake County residents have recovered from COVID-19. ODH defines presumed recovered as those with a symptom onset date greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased

Though vaccinations continue and newly reported cases are significantly lower than they were at the peak,

top U.S. officials March 29 asked elected officials, community leaders and everyday Americans to maintain social distancing measures and mask wearing.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said moves to ease restrictions were premature, according to the Associated Press.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases were up about 10 percent over the past week from the previous week and hospitalizations and deaths also ticked up, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky pointed to an increase in travel and loosening virus restrictions for the increase in cases.

“People want to be done with this. I, too, want to be done with this,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “We’ve seen surges after every single holiday. Please limit travel to essential travel for the time being.”

March 29 marked the first day in Ohio all residents 16 and older were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. As of March 30, there have been 73,390 vaccines started in Lake County, representing 31.89 percent of its population.

COVID-19 mega-Point of Dispensing (POD) mass vaccination clinics are also starting in Lake County. A clinic held at Mentor High School March 31 is expected to vaccinate about 5,000 people, according to the Lake County General Health District. Another mega-POD clinic is scheduled April 7 at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland. The health district stated more clinics at Lakeland are being planned.

Registration for these clinics can be done using the ArmorVax scheduling system. New appointments will be open every Monday.

Those without email addresses and/or needing assistance making appointments can call 440350-2684 on Mondays and Tuesdays, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

SHEENA HOLLAND DOLAN — THE NEWS-HERALD The mass vaccination clinic at Mentor High on March 31served approximately 600 people shortly after opening, and was on track to vaccinate 5,000 people by the end of the day, according to Health Commissioner Ron Graham.

SHEENA HOLLAND DOLAN — THE NEWS-HERALD A member of the Wickliffe Fire Department administers a dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at the mass vaccination clinic on March 31.

SOURCE: LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT Weekly number of new COVID-19cases reported in Lake County. Figures are as of 2p.m. on Tuesdays and are included in the Lake County General Health District’s weekly coronavirus data reports. All figures include confirmed and probable cases, unless otherwise noted.*Lab confirmed cases only; **Includes cleared backlog of pending antigen tests dating to Nov. 1; *** Beginning week of Jan. 26. Data is from the Ohio Department of Health.