While Cuyahoga County remains at a Level 3 risk level for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, its outlook appears to have at least slightly improved.
At his press briefing on Thursday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that Cuyahoga County has been removed from the watch list for Level 4 -- the highest level on the state's list.
Nevertheless, DeWine warned that Cuyahoga County remains in a critical place and that its heightened coronavirus numbers appear to be the result of increased travel and recreational activity. Due to an order issued last week, all counties in Ohio that meet the Level 3 criteria will mandate that masks be worn in public by all citizens.
As of Friday at 6 p.m., more than 60 percent of Ohio will be under a mask mandate due to the updated risk levels across the state. On Thursday, DeWine revealed that 19 counties in the state are now at Level 3, with none currently reaching Level 4.
In addition to Cuyahoga County, Summit and Lorain County remain in Level 3, with Richland County being added to the list on Thursday. Meanwhile, Trumbull County, which reached Level 3 last week, has since been downgraded to Level 2.
DeWine has yet to announce what sort of effects will take place for any counties that qualify for Level 4.