CEDARVILLE, Ohio — On Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine provided some grim numbers as Ohio continues to experience a surge in the number of cases of COVID-19.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, the state experienced a record number of daily coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, as nearly 5,000 Ohioans tested positive. DeWine noted that there are now 2,075 hospitalized patients for COVID-19 in the state, which is a 55% increase in hospitalized patients compared to two weeks ago.
There are 541 people in intensive care units of Ohio hospitals due to coronavirus, the previous high was 533 in April.
Perhaps most shocking in DeWine's rundown of the state's numbers was his note that every single county in Ohio is now considered "high incidence." Counties are tagged high incidence when they have more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over a two week period. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses this as the definition of high incidence.
56 of Ohio's 88 counties are now at the state's level 3 "red" status in the COVID-19 Advisory System, including seven counties that have never been at that stage since the pandemic began. The only Northeast Ohio counties that are not at red level are Carroll, Erie, and Huron.
"COVID-19 is everywhere," DeWine stated in his briefing. "We can't hide from it, we have to face it."
DeWine also announced additions to his health team on Thursday. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff has accepted the position of Chief Medical Officer at the Ohio Department of Health, while Stephanie McCloud takes over as Director of the Ohio Department of Health.