NEWS

More records: Ohio with 3,845 new cases, hospitalizations at all-time high

Max Filby
The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio is nearing the administration of 3.3 million tests since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the state nearly seven months ago.

COLUMBUS — Ohio once again shattered its daily record for new coronavirus cases on Friday as 3,845 more residents tested positive.

Friday's new cases were 7.1% higher than the previous record of 3,590 new cases set Thursday, state Department of Health data shows. It marks the second time Ohio's newly reported cases have exceeded 3,000 a day and the 15th day above 2,000 cases.

The new cases Friday also were 1,622 more than the three-week daily average of 2,223 new cases, according to the state health department. 

A total 1,629 Ohioans remained hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, which is the highest number since the pandemic began in March. The total hospitalized on Friday represents a 6.1% increase, data shows.

Of those 1,629 Ohioans in the hospital with coronavirus, 427 are in intensive care units and 226 are on ventilators, according to the state.

Contributing to the new hospital record total, 169 more Ohioans were hospitalized Friday, which is above a three-week average of 127 new hospitalizations a day. Another 25 people were admitted to ICUs, which is above a three-week average of 20 new admissions a day, according to the state.

The average rate at which Ohioans tested positive for the virus over the previous seven days rose to 6.2% on Wednesday, the most recent day for which data is available.

July 25 was the last time Ohio's seven-day positive test rate was at 6.2%, according to the state. It was at its lowest of 2.7% on Sept. 24.

So far, more than 4.4 million COVID-19 tests have been administered across the state.

As Ohio's cases and the positive test rate continue to climb, it's unlikely the state is anywhere near its peak in the current COVID-19 wave, said Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, medical director of infectious diseases for OhioHealth.

With fall and winter holidays fast approaching and people moving indoors because of cold weather, cases will probably continue to increase for a while, Gastaldo said. It's likely, he said, that Ohio's new cases and positive test rate won't peak until after the holidays.

"It really depends on what the governor does and whether people are adhering to mitigation policies..." Gastaldo said. "We all need to be very concerned. We need to talk about it and people really need to get on board."

As of Friday, an additional 16 deaths were reported, which is just above the three-week average of 14 new deaths reported per day. The virus has killed a total of 5,291 Ohioans, according to the state health department.

Stark County has reported 4,344 total cases (up 77 from a day earlier) and 186 deaths (up one death from a day earlier).

The new case record Friday comes a day after Gov. Mike DeWine told Ohioans that the virus is now "raging throughout the state." 

With Ohio's COVID-19 caseload rising to record levels, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor on Friday urged judges statewide to be virus smart amid disregard for precautions by too many Ohioans.

“Everyone correctly wearing masks, taking temperatures, sanitizing, and socially distancing are mandatory practices to keep people safe,” she wrote to judges, urging them to use remote hearings to handle cases.

Some judges who reopened their courtrooms for in-person jury trials have temporarily halted such proceedings as a result of the virus spike.

"I regard that as a smart move, given the current situation,” O’Connor said.

"It may become more dangerous as people head indoors for the winter," she said. “We may also be more at risk because the sensible precautions taken by most in the early stages seem to now be disregarded by so many.”

Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow contributed to this story.