Virus cases under 1,000 for third day in a row

Another 932 Ohioans tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday, marking the third day in a row with new cases under 1,000.

The 932 new cases is below the most recent 21-day average of 1,291 new cases per day, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The new cases bring the statewide total of probable and confirmed cases to 93,963.

The rate at which Ohioans are testing positive for COVID-19 has also fallen in recent days. The seven-day average positive rate was down from 6.4% on July 20 to 5.6% on Saturday, according to state data.

A total of 1.53 million virus tests have been administered in Ohio so far.

The recent lull in cases comes after an explosion of new ones in July.

Cases increased 76% in July. That translates to an average of 1,270 new cases a day last month compared to 542 per day in June.

The total number of new cases a day in July alone accounts for close to 57% of all cases since the pandemic began. Of the 26 days when more than 1,000 new cases were reported, 24 were in July, data shows.

There were 10 new deaths reported Monday in Ohio, which is less than half of the three-week average of 23 new deaths reported daily. The total number of Ohioans who have succumbed to COVID-19 now stands at 3,539, according to the state health department.

An additional 92 people were hospitalized for the virus in Ohio as of Monday. That’s slightly below the three-week average of 99 new hospitalizations per day, according to

the state.

Another 10 Ohioans were also admitted to intensive care units since Sunday, down from a three-week average of 18 per day.

Gov. Mike Dewine did not host a briefing on the virus Monday.

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, Franklin County remains the hardest hit by COVID-19. As of Monday, 17,254 cases and 514 deaths were reported in Franklin County, according to the state.

Cuyahoga County has the secondhighest number of cases and deaths. By Monday, Cuyahoga County had reported 12,753 cases and 477 deaths.

Hamilton County has the third most cases with 9,160 reported so far. Lucas County has the third-highest death toll with 318 having succumbed to the virus as of Monday, according to

[ADAM CAIRNS/DISPATCH] Employees perform coronavirus testing on a patient in their car at Ohio State on March 16. There were 10 new deaths reported Monday in Ohio, bringing the total number of Ohioans who have died because of the virus to 3,539.