CLEVELAND, Ohio – Most of Ohio remains on red alert over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, weeks after the first vaccines began to leak into the state. Hamilton County has been placed at the highest level of purple alert level 4. And Lorain County is on the alert for possibly turning purple next week.
Thursday’s update showed 83 of Ohio’s 88 counties at level 3 red, including all counties in northern Ohio. The only four counties in the lowest orange concern level are Gallia, Hocking, Monroe and Vinton – all in southeastern Ohio.
Although vaccines began to be administered and hospitalizations have declined dramatically in the last month, there are a large number of cases across the state far beyond where they were during the summer and early fall.
Here is the Ohio coronavirus alert map changed in the past few months.Ohio Department of Health
In early October, only 10 counties were on red alert, none in the Greater Cleveland / Akron area. That changed as cases increased, deaths skyrocketed and hospital beds filled in Ohio during the late fall.
The designation of red alert, according to the state’s advisory system, means that there is a public emergency for greater exposure and dissemination and that people must “exercise a high degree of caution”.
Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, became the first county on purple alert since Richland County on December 17.
The state reported that so far, 3 out of 100 Ohio residents have been vaccinated.
Governor Mike DeWine said it is worrying that each county in Ohio is accumulating new cases at rates much higher than what the Centers for Disease Control considers a high incidence rate, or more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past few years. two weeks, excluding incarcerated individuals.
Ohio rates vary from 343.5 per 100,000 in Holmes County to 1,092.8 in Shelby County.
In the Greater Cleveland / Akron area, these rates are 774 per 100,000 for Lorain County, 762.5 for Lake, 724.8 for Summit, 673.4 for Cuyahoga, 667.8 for Portage, 647.6 for Medina and 604, 4 for Geauga.
Here are the 14-day COVID-19 case rates for Tuesday for each Ohio county in Ohio. The fee is per 100,000 people, excluding incarcerated individuals.Ohio Department of Health
The Ohio Department of Health monitors seven measures to determine alert levels. Indicators include the number of new cases per capita, increases in visits to doctors and emergency rooms, levels of hospital capacity and how many cases originate outside living facilities, such as nursing homes.
Cuyahoga was flagged for exceeding the worry limit in four of the seven areas this week:
* New cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks.
* Consecutive sequences of days with the increase in the number of new cases and visits to the emergency room related to COVID-19, these sequences ended on January 2.
* A large number of new cases outside congregated homes, such as nursing homes.
Lorain County was flagged for concern in six areas – the same four in Cuyahoga, plus increases of at least five consecutive days for medical appointments and hospital admissions. However, the last of these periods for consecutive days ended on January 5.
Cuyahoga County has been flagged for meeting levels of concern with the coronavirus in four of the seven areas monitored by the state.Ohio Department of Health
Here is the coronavirus alert bulletin issued to Lorain County on Thursday, resulting in the county being placed on “surveillance” for possibly entering level 4 purple alert next week.Ohio Department of Health
The advisory system
Here is a more detailed look at the consulting system that DeWine launched in early July.
* 1. New cases – Alert triggered when there are 50 new cases for cases of 100,000 residents in the last two weeks.
* two. Increase in new cases – Alert triggered by an increase in cases for five consecutive days at any time in the past three weeks. This is based on the date of onset of symptoms, not when cases are reported.
* 3. Un congregated living cases – Alert triggered when at least 50% of new cases in one of the last three weeks occurred in congregated external spaces, such as nursing homes and prisons.
* 4. Emergency rooms – Alert triggered when there is an increase in visits for symptoms similar to those of COVID or a diagnosis for five consecutive days at any time in the last three weeks.
* 5. Doctor visits – Alert triggered when there is an increase in outpatient visits resulting in confirmed cases or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 for five consecutive days at any time in the past three weeks.
* 6. Hospitalizations – Alert triggered when there is an increase in new COVID-19 patients for five consecutive days at any time in the past three weeks. This is based on the county or residence, not the location of the hospital.
* 7. Occupation of the Intensive Care Unit – Alert triggered when ICU occupancy in a region exceeds 80% of the total ICU beds and at least 20% of the beds are being used for patients with coronavirus for at least three days in the last week.
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