OHIO, USA — As the state of Ohio continues to see a surge in Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, many are considering the impact the surge will have on local hospitals.
New data, released Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Health on the state ICU's capacity is alarming. The Department reports that the statewide ICU capacity has surpassed 70 percent. Only 27.6 percent or 1,278 patients of the state's total capacity remains available.
Of the patients in the ICU, nine percent or 416 patients are being treated for the Coronavirus and 224 are on ventilators. A total of 1,536 Ohioans are now hospitalized with COVID-19.
More Ohioans are currently hospitalized with the virus than at any time since the pandemic began in March, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
As of Wednesday, there were 2,607 new COVID-19 cases and 17 newly reported deaths in the last 24- hours.
As Ohio prepares for the possibility of having its first counties reach Level 4 "Purple" on the state's coronavirus (COVID-19) risk advisory, many are wondering how Governor Mike DeWine might respond.
But while some have theorized that Ohio might issue orders for those counties, including the closing of schools, Gov. DeWine said that wouldn't be the case -- at least not on Thursday.
During an impromptu briefing, Gov. DeWine addressed Ohioans providing an update on his plans and discussing relief efforts for restaurants and bars. He is expected to provide a more in-depth update on the state's response to the ongoing pandemic, Thursday.
You can watch Wednesday's briefing in the player below.
For more information on the Coronavirus pandemic here in Ohio, click here.