Ohio surpasses 140,000 coronavirus cases

An additional 1,033 Ohioans had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday, raising the state’s total to 140,518.

Wednesday’s cases were fewer than the three-week average of 1,092 new cases reported per day, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

More than 2.68 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state since the pandemic arrived in Ohio in March.

The average positive test rate for Ohioans over the previous seven days dropped to 3.5% on Monday, the most recent day for which data is available, according to the state health department. The seven-day average positive rate was 3.7% Sunday.

Deaths rose by 49 on Wednesday, which is more than the three-week average of 24 new deaths reported per day.

In Ohio, 4,555 people have died of COVID-19, according to the state. Of those who died, 92% were 60 or older.

An additional 79 Ohioans were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday. That’s above a three-week average of 72 new hospitalizations per day, state data shows.

Admissions to intensive care units on Wednesday increased by 23, which is more than the three-week average of 10 new ICU admissions per day.

As of Wednesday, 651 Ohioans remained hospitalized with COVID-19, including 222 in ICUS and 133 on ventilators, according to the state.

Franklin County has reported the most cases, at 25,274, and the secondmost deaths, 599. Cuyahoga County has reported the most deaths, 636, and the second-highest number of cases, 16,846, according to the state health department.

Gov. Mike Dewine did not hold a press conference on the virus Wednesday but said he plans one Thursday afternoon. mfilby@dispatch.com @Maxfilby