COLUMBUS, Ohio — Did it seem like everybody around you was sick with something just a few weeks ago? It appears we may have turned the corner as respiratory illnesses are currently declining in Ohio.
During a press conference Thursday in which health officials addressed safety for the upcoming solar eclipse, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff also took a moment to discuss the drop in cases of COVID, RSV and the flu.
“Traditionally, spring is when we begin to see respiratory illnesses start to decline, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in Ohio right now," Dr. Vanderhoff said during a press conference Thursday. "The rates of COVID-19 and RSV have been declining dramatically in recent weeks. Last week, there were 2,719 COVID cases reported statewide. That was a 40 percent drop from what was reported just two weeks earlier. COVID hospitalizations and deaths have also been decreasing. Influenza activity is also beginning to decline in Ohio. The CDC last week downgraded Ohio’s flu activity from very high to high. The number of flu-related outpatient visits dropped 23 percent last week, and the number of hospitalizations similarly dropped 24 percent."
Dr. Vanderhoff said that while these are "welcomed signs," he added that we can't let our guard down as flu cases "are still high."
We streamed Dr. Vanderhoff's entire press conference, which you can watch in the player below:
COVID VACCINES
“COVID vaccination, of course, remains an important consideration," Dr. Vanderhoff said. "Last month, the CDC endorsed a recommendation from the agency’s advisory committee that adults 65 and older should receive an additional updated dose of the COVID vaccine that became available in September as long as it’s been at least four months since someone has had their last shot or three months since they’ve had a COVID infection.”
He said this updated COVID shot from September should be considered "a new vaccine."
“An additional shot now will shore up protection for those 65 and older who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. So far, 11.3 percent of Ohioans, including about 34 percent of those who are 65 and older, have received this updated vaccine.”
Dr. Vanderhoff said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, got their latest dose of the updated COVID vaccine on Wednesday.
“This will ensure maximum protection against a virus that is still very much in circulation and is claiming the lives of dozens of Ohioans every week.”
MEASLES IN OHIO
Dr. Vanderhoff also discussed the status of measles in our state.
“There have been sizable outbreaks overseas. Inevitably, in this global environment, that means cases have surfaced in the United States and in Ohio," he said. "We cannot think of ourselves as isolated from these international outbreaks. Last week, the CDC announced that the number of confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2024 is already 58 – the same number that we recorded in the entirety of 2023. In Ohio, we now have had five confirmed cases: Two each in Montgomery and Miami counties, and one in Richland County. It’s very important for you and your loved ones to be up to date on all vaccines.”
INFECTIOUS DISEASE DASHBOARD
The Ohio Department of Health has released a new database allowing people to track infectious diseases by county. Click here to access. The dashboard includes data from more than 100 infectious diseases and can be easily filtered by county, timeframe, and demographics such as age, sex, race, and ethnicity.