Ohio Surpasses 7K COVID-Related Deaths, Numbers Are ‘Unsustainable’

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health Monday reported 63 new deaths, bringing the cumulative count to 7,022.

The ODH also reported 9,273 new cases since Sunday, bringing the total case count to 484,297. ODH also reports 336 new hospitalizations for COVID-19, 40 of which are admissions to intensive care.

During a press conference Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine indicated while it’s too soon to say for sure given the expected cases from the Thanksgiving holiday, but it appears the rate of new cases seems to be flattening out. DeWine believes the masking order and curfew have helped to slow the rate of increase, but the levels are still “much to high,” he said.

“As the heads of hospitals have told me, it’s unsustainable at this level,” DeWine said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 6,330 new cases Monday, bringing the commonwealth’s total to 426,444.

In Mahoning County, the ODH reports 9,854 cases, up 224 from Monday with 728 hospitalizations, up two, and 307 deaths, up two. The county has had 1,805 cases over the past two weeks, according to Ohio’s ZIP code case map. The 44512 ZIP code, Boardman, leads with 306; followed by 44514, Poland, with 260; and 44515, Austintown, with 242.

The ODH reports 7,365 cases in Trumbull County, up 99 new cases from Monday, with 604 hospitalizations, up 5, and 165 deaths, up three. There have been 1,297 cases in the past two weeks, led by the 44483 ZIP code, Warren/Champion Heights, with 203; 44484, primarily Warren/Niles, with 147 cases; and 44446, Niles/Girard, with 127.

In Columbiana County, the ODH reports 4,480 positive cases, 69 new from Sunday, along 335 hospitalizations, two more than reported Sunday, and 104 deaths. There have been 737 new cases over the past two weeks, according to the state ZIP code map, led by 43920 – Calcutta – with 221 cases, and 44460 – Salem – with 123.

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.

Currently, Montgomery, Richland, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Stark and Lake counties are ranked Purple – the highest threat level – indicating severe exposure and spread and recommending that resident leave their homes only for supplies and services.

Of the total cases reported by Ohio Department of Health, 458,993 are confirmed. ODH reported 25,304 probable cases based on the CDC’s expanded case definition. Of the 7,022 total deaths, 6,544 are confirmed and another 478 are probable under the CDC expanded diagnosis definition. The 21-day reported case average is 8,521.

The ODH also reports cumulative 29,569 hospitalizations, of which 4,943 are intensive care admissions, up 40 since Sunday. The state reports a presumed 327,078 Ohioans have recovered after testing positive, up 5,573 since Sunday. 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 6,502,024 tests. CLICK HERE for a map of testing locations in the state.

In Pennsylvania, 394,455 of the total cases in the commonwealth are confirmed, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and 31,989 are probable. There are 5,421 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the commonwealth, of whom 1,115 are in the ICU and 614 on a ventilator.

Pennsylvania also reports 11,373 total deaths, up 42 from Sunday.

Of all tests conducted in Pennsylvania, 2,943,283 were reported negative, the department reported Monday. With positive cases, 58% 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.

On Monday, the health department reported Mercer County has 3,693 cases, or 90 new cases since Monday, and 58 deaths with 19,360 negative tests, while Lawrence County has 2,703 total cases, up 50 from Monday, and 78 deaths, as well as 12,389 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.