Ohio COVID Cases Dip after Christmas; Hospitalizations Bounce Back

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health Monday reported 4,519 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

That’s the second day in a row the state has reported declines in new cases following a steady increase leading up to a two-day total of 11,018 over Dec. 25 and 26. In that same period of time, however, new hospitalizations have increased over the last three days with 290 new admissions reported Monday.

Since the start of the pandemic, the ODH reports a cumulative 675,044 total cases, 8,571 deaths and 37,076 hospitalizations, of whom 5,749 are intensive care admissions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 8,663 new combined cases on Dec. 27 and 28, bringing the commonwealth’s total to 613,804. The commonwealth reported 203 new deaths Dec. 26 and 27 as well for a cumulative total of 15,086.

In Mahoning County, the ODH reports 14,309 cases Monday with 786 hospitalizations and 312 deaths.

The ODH reports 10,526 cases in Trumbull County with 744 hospitalizations, and 252 deaths.

In Columbiana County, the ODH reports 5,936 positive cases as of Monday, along with 380 hospitalizations and 119 deaths.

Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties are rated Red in the state’s color-coded Public Health Advisory System, indicating very high exposure and spread. All 88 counties in the state are at least Orange level, indicating increased exposure and spread.

No counties are currently ranked Purple – the highest threat level – indicating severe exposure and spread and recommending that residents leave their homes only for supplies and services.

Of the total cases reported by Ohio Department of Health, 608,429 are confirmed. ODH reported 66,615 probable cases based on the CDC’s expanded case definition. Of the 8,571 total deaths, 7,791 are confirmed and another 780 are probable under the CDC expanded diagnosis definition. The 21-day reported case average is 9,083.

The ODH also reports a cumulative 37,076 hospitalizations, of which 5,749 are intensive care admissions, including 30 in the last 24 hours. The state reports a presumed 523,494 Ohioans have recovered after testing positive. Presumed recovered is defined as cases with a symptom onset date of greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased, according to the ODH website.

As of Monday, Ohio had conducted 7,573,219 tests. CLICK HERE for a map of testing locations in the state.

In Pennsylvania, 554,904 of the total cases in the commonwealth are confirmed, according to the state’s Department of Health, and 58,900 are probable. There are 5,995 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the commonwealth, of whom 1,174 are in the ICU and 715 on a ventilator.

Pennsylvania also reports 15,086 total deaths.

Of all tests conducted in Pennsylvania, 3,238,091 were reported negative, the department reported Monday. With positive cases, 64% have recovered. If a case has not been reported as a death and it is more than 30 days past the date of their first positive test or onset of symptoms, then the person is considered recovered, according to the health department’s website.

The health department reported Mercer County has 5,721 cases as of Monday and 127 deaths with 21,766 negative tests. Lawrence County has 4,081 total cases and 121 deaths, as well as 14,318 negative tests.

The figures are updated daily by the Ohio Department of Health at 2 p.m. and Pennsylvania Department of Health at noon.

For more stories on the coronavirus and its impact on businesses, both locally and nationally, go to our coronavirus news page here.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.