300th virus death recorded

Newly reported cases of COVID-19 continue to decline

While Lake County has reached a novel coronavirus death milestone, the number of newly reported cases in the county continues to decline.

Lake County has 300 COVID-19 deaths as of 2 p.m., Feb. 23, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. The county last week saw its deaths jump by more than 100 after the state began reconciling about 4,000 unreported cases statewide.

There were 109 deaths added to Lake County’s total on Feb. 12-13. Four deaths, however, were later removed from the county’s total.

“For the four removed deaths: all four are labeled as Lake County residents, laboratory confirmed COVID cases, and as deceased,” the Lake County General Health District’s Policy, Research, and Planning Coordinator Jessica Wakelee said in an email. “Based on information in the system currently, there is no value to say whether or not their deaths were from COVID (previously they had all been marked yes). After reviewing death certificates for these cases, they do not appear to have been ultimately ruled as deaths from COVID.”

As of 12:01 a.m. Feb. 18, Lake County had 331 deaths among Lake County residents with COVID-19 according to a health district data report, but at that point there were 37 deaths where the cause of death was not directly attributed to COVID-19 or was yet to be determined.

Definitive cause of death can take weeks to months to determine, according to health officials.

As of 2 p.m. Feb. 23, Lake County had 18,178 cumulative COVID-19 cases, according to ODH data. There were 324 new cases reported between Feb. 16-23, down from 400 reported the week prior. This marks the sixth straight week the county has seen a decline in new cases.

Of the 18,178 cumulative cases, ODH presumes 16,877 have recovered. ODH defines presumed recovered as those with a symptom onset date greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased.

Lake County had 682 cumulative COVID-19 hospitalizations as of 2 p.m., Feb. 23. There were 24 hospitalizations reported between Feb. 16-23, up from 14 reported the week prior.

According to ODH, there have been 28,241 COVID-19 vaccines started in Lake County, representing 12.27 percent of the county’s population.

The Lake County General Health District is reminding residents the COVID-19 vaccine supply is currently very limited.

“If you have signed up and not yet received an invitation to schedule, please be patient and do not complete a second form,” the health department stated on its website. “It may take many weeks for you to be offered an appointment given current supply, which is typically only in the hundreds each week.”

The health district stated residents are encouraged to explore all available vaccination options appointment offered, regardless of provider or vaccine type. A list of Lake County vaccine providers can be found on the health district’s website.

Ohio remains in Phase 1B of the vaccination process. Those eligible include those 65 years of age and older as well as those who have a severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorder.

The process to vaccinate Lake County school employees also began on Feb. 22.