CLEVELAND — COVID-19 case numbers in Northeast Ohio are at their lowest levels in months, as evidenced by the CDC's latest data.
According to the center, all counties in the region are now either at or below a "medium" level for coronavirus risk and spread, with seven counties now at the lowest such threshold. This means health experts no longer recommend wearing face masks for most people while in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
A week ago, four area counties — Ashtabula, Erie, Huron, and Lorain — remained at the "high" level by virtue of seeing at least 20 new COVID hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in a given week or a combination of both 200 new cases and 10 new hospitalizations per capita. All have since seen a dramatic drop, with Erie in particular falling from 222.17 cases per 100,000 people during the previous week to just 146.77 over the last seven days.
Cuyahoga County remained in the medium "yellow" zone for the fifth consecutive week, joined by Ashtabula, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, and Trumbull. Those living in these areas are only advised to think about wearing masks in indoor public places if they have a "high risk of getting very sick" or are in close contact with someone who does.
The local counties now at the low "green" threshold are Ashland, Carroll, Holmes, Richland, Stark, Tuscarawas, and Wayne. In the entire state, only three counties — Lawrence, Meigs, and Pike — remain high.
The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday reported just over 12,000 new COVID-19 cases in the last week, the smallest weekly statewide increase since May 5.
