The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Area COVID cases on the rise
Weekly reported cases topped 400 for first time since February
Lake County had more than 400 weekly reported novel coronavirus cases for the first time since February, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.
The county on Aug. 31 had a seven-day case total of 484, the highest weekly total since 523 cases were reported Feb. 9.
Weekly reported cases dipped to a low of 22 on July 6.
That figure was the lowest the county had seen since that same number was reported on June 22, 2020. In the two following weeks, there were 61 and 60 cases reported respectively. Lake County has seen its cases climb every week since then. The 484 weekly cases reported Aug. 31 is up from 337 reported last week.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lake County has a seven-day rolling average of 210.3 cases per 100,000 population. The CDC considers figures greater than 100 cases per 100,000 population to be high community transmission.
Every county in Ohio — except for neighboring Ashtabula County — is currently seeing high community transmission, according to the CDC.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 22,943 COVID-19 cases reported in Lake County, according to ODH. Of that total, it presumes 21,478 have recovered. ODH defines presumed recovered as those with a symptom onset date greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased.
According to the Lake County General Health District, as of Aug. 27 there have been 420 COVID-19 deaths in the county since the start of the pandemic. The ages of those who have died from COVID-19 ranges from 20 to 104. The average age of those in Lake County who have died is 79.
Of those who have died, 223 were 80 or older; 107 were between 70-79 years old; 57 were between 6069; 17 were between 50-59; 13 were between 40-49; 2 were between 30-39 and 1 was between 20-29. Fortyfive percent of those who died in Lake County had a known preexisting condition. Thirty-five percent of those who died in the county resided in congregate living.
The health district’s death data is compiled from the Ohio Disease Reporting System.
Lake County continues to have the second-highest COVID-19 vaccination completion rate in Ohio. ODH data shows that 54.69 percent of Lake County’s total population has completed the vaccination process as of Aug. 31. That trails only Delaware County in central Ohio (62.63 percent). Those 12 and older are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those eligible in Lake County, 62.8 percent have completed the vaccination process. Statewide, 56.09 percent of eligible Ohioans have completed their vaccines, according to ODH.
The Lake County General Health District is continuing to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics. The health district offers vaccination clinics at its 5966 Heisley Road, Mentor office on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. — 6 p.m. and Thursdays from noon — 4p.m. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available at these clinics. Walk-ins are accepted.
The following is a list of other upcoming vaccination clinics being offered by the health district (walkins accepted at all clinics). All clinics are offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, unless otherwise noted:
• Sept. 2: 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. at the Madison YMCA, 730 N. Lake St.
• Sept. 3: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. at Tractor Supply Co., 1625 Mentor Ave., Painesville Township
• Sept. 4: 1 p.m. — 6 p.m. at Painesville Morse Ave. Playground, 244 Jefferson St.
• Sept 7: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. at Lakeland Community College (between AFC and H Building on parking lot loop), 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland
• Sept. 8: 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. at the Fairport Harbor Public Library, 335 Vine St. (Pfizer, Moderna and limited Johnson & Johnson vaccines available)
• Sept. 9: 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. at the Painesville Salvation Army, 69 Pearl St.
• Sept. 10: 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. at the 8775 Mentor Ave., Mentor McDonald’s
• Sept. 13: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. at the Perry Township Sheetz, 2800 North Ridge Road
• Sept. 14: 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. at the Madison Public Library, 6111 Middle Ridge Road
• Sept. 15: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. at Lakeland Community College
• Sept. 15: 10 a.m. — 3 p.m. at the Wickliffe Public Library, 1713 Lincoln Road
• Sept. 16: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. at the Madison WIC office, 31 Park St., Madison Village
• Sept. 18: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maple Elementary School, 560 W. Jackson St., Painesville
• Sept. 28: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. at Lakeland Community College