Ohio Again Breaks Summer Record For New COVID-19 Cases

COLUMBUS, OH — For the second straight day, Ohio has broken its own summer record for most cases confirmed in a single day.

Over the past 24 hours, 2,167 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed among Ohioans, according to the state health department. That's more than double the state's average for new cases per day (939 cases per day); and up from Tuesday's record-breaking 1,769 new cases.

Hospitalizations also topped 100 on Wednesday, with 113 Ohioans seeking medical care for COVID-19. Ohio had been averaging 57 COVID-19-related hospitalizations per day.

Read more: Latest Ohio Vaccine And Mask Mandates: See Who's Requiring Them

As of Wednesday afternoon, 49.63 percent of Ohioans have started the COVID-19 vaccination process, receiving at least one shot. Approximately 46 percent of Ohioans are completely vaccinated against the virus, the Ohio Department of Health said.

As the delta variant of COVID-19 spreads through Ohio and the U.S., many American companies and schools are now asking employees to wear masks while indoors.

In fact, the majority of Ohioans should be wearing masks while indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week. Of Ohio's 88 counties, 64 have substantial or high rates of COVID-19 spread. However, a statewide mask mandate is unlikely anytime soon.

Ohio legislators passed a bill this year that made it extremely difficult for the Ohio Department of Health or Gov. Mike DeWine to issue statewide mandates requiring either mask wearing or vaccines. However, individual companies can require both, and school systems can require masking indoors.