OHIO, USA — The Ohio Department of Health is going the extra mile to ensure residents are informed of the risk associated with the spread of the Coronavirus( COVID-19). On Thursday, officials released three updated maps that illustrate the spread of COVID -19 and its impact on the Intensive Care Units at healthcare systems across the state.
The first new map takes a look at cases per 100,000 residents over a span of two weeks. As of current check, all of Ohio's 88 counties are above the CDC's threshold for high incidence, which is 100 cases per 100,000 residents. According to a release from ODH, this information can be used to understand the severity of COVID-19 transmission by county.
At least one out of every 200 residents has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two weeks and is at risk of spreading it to others, ODH reports.
The second map shows regional COVID-19 ICU utilization-- the percent of ICU patients that are COVID positive. This information is provided as a weekly average and based on hospital preparedness by region.
Today, 1 out of every 3 ICU patients is COVID-19 positive. The current impact on the healthcare system is severe and unsustainable.
The third map, the Public Health Advisory System map, shows that 84 counties in the state are red and four are orange. These level indicated that residents should be operating out of an abundance of caution and limiting interaction to slow the spread of the disease.
For more information on the Ohio Public Advisory System, click here.
"While the state is no longer seeing sharp increases in new cases and hospitalizations, care should be taken when interpreting this data. During long holiday weekends such as Christmas or New Year’s, some healthcare providers do not operate at full capacity, and individuals may delay care due to family obligations or travel," the health department wrote Thursday.
