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Cuyahoga County now has highest COVID-19 case rate in state, according to Ohio Department of Health

The county is averaging 1,267 cases per 100K. Ohio's statewide rate is now at 783.2.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health is reporting some alarming numbers about COVID-19 case rates, both in the state and for Northeast Ohio.

Cuyahoga County is now No. 1 in the state among counties in COVID-19 case rates with 1,267 cases per 100,000 residents over a two-week span. Last week, Cuyahoga County was at No. 30 among 88 counties with 850.2 cases per 100K residents.

Meanwhile, Ohio's rate has increased from 601.1 cases per 100,000 two weeks ago, to 783.2 cases on Thursday.

Here's how other counties in Northeast Ohio ranked:

  • No. 4 - Lake County: 1046.7 cases per 100K
  • No. 8 - Portage County: 967.6 cases per 100K
  • No. 11 - Lorain County: 939.8 per 100K
  • No. 13 - Summit County: 937.5 per 100K
  • No. 15 - Medina County: 914.6 cases per 100K
  • No. 27 - Stark County - 848.3 cases per 100K
  • No. 32 - Ashtabula County: 825.8 cases per 100K
  • No. 57 - Geauga County: 712.2 cases per 100K

During a COVID-19 briefing earlier this week, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish delivered a sobering warning. "It's going to get worse," Budish said during his report. "This is winter in Cleveland, folks. With cold and snow pushing us indoors. The holiday season means get-togethers with family and friends and COVID. And if that's not enough [the] omicron [variant] has come to town. So please, please, please be careful. Keep gatherings small, wear your mask and get vaccinated and boosted."

Meanwhile, Cleveland's major health systems are all reporting rising hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Cleveland Clinic announced Tuesday that it is nearing its bed capacity. The Clinic said that the number of patients that are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are the highest since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The MetroHealth System says it is currently experiencing "all-time high numbers for COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity" since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

“Unlike the other surges we’ve have in northeast Ohio, this one never really came back down,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Claudia Hoyen told 3News this week.  

You can watch the Ohio Department of Health's Thursday COVID-19 briefing below:

More COVID-19 coverage:

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