COVID-19 in Ohio: Cases reach second lowest point in 21 days, positive rate drops

Another 883 Ohioans were diagnosed with the coronavirus Monday, marking one of lowest days of new cases reported per day in at least three weeks.

Virus numbers have steadily leveled off in recent weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine has said. Monday’s 883 new cases followed Sunday’s 879, which was the lowest since July 6, data shows.

Monday’s new cases was also well below the most-recent three-week average of 1,217 new cases a day, according to the Ohio Department of Health. As of Monday, 101,731 Ohioans have been diagnosed with the virus.

The rate at which Ohioans tested positive for the virus over the last seven days dropped to 5.3% as of Saturday, the most-recent day for which data is available from the state. It marks the first time since June 30 that the positive rate has fallen to that level.

More than 1.68 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in Ohio, state data shows.

An additional four Ohioans were reported to have died of the virus as of Monday. That’s below a three-week average of 23 new deaths reported per day, according to the state.

So far, 3,673 people across the state have died of COVID-19.

New hospitalizations also appeared to still be on the decline Monday.

Another 64 people were admitted to Ohio hospitals for COVID-19 ,which is below a three-week average of 96, according to the state. Fifteen more Ohioans were admitted to intensive care units as of Monday, which is one below the three-week average of 16.

Franklin County remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ohio. Franklin County reported 18,483 cases and 525 deaths by Monday, according to the state health department.

Cuyahoga County remains the second-hardest hit of Ohio’s 88 counties. As of Monday, Cuyahoga County reported 13,640 cases and 500 deaths, state data shows.

Hamilton County has the third-highest number of cases, with 9,689 so far. Lucas County still had the third-most deaths on Monday, with 323 since the pandemic began in March.

DeWine did not hold a news conference Monday.

mfilby@dispatch.com

@MaxFilby