DeWine: COVID-19 hospitalizations currently at ‘all-time high’ in Ohio

Ohio is currently experiencing the sharpest spike in hospitalizations caused by COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine said during the state’s coronavirus briefing Tuesday.

The state reported an additional 198 new hospitalizations since Monday, with the 21 day average now up to 117, according to state data.

DeWine added that community spread, caused mostly by gatherings, continues to be the main cause of increased COVID-19 spread.

DeWine was asked about the possibility of another statewide economic shutdown, saying the state does not have a plan to do so and doesn’t want to.

“A complete shut down has consequences that are not good. We don’t want to shut down again. We’ve done it once, we don’t want to do it twice,” DeWine said.

Lt. Gov. John Husted added the businesses are not part of the problem in terms of spread, adding businesses have proven they’ve created solutions that work to limit COVID-19 spread.

“A shut down wont effect where spread is being seen now. Spread is happening where people are spending their personal time,” Husted said.

Asked a second time about the potential economic shutdowns, whether statewide or on a more localized level, DeWine reiterated no plans to do so, however said everything is on the table to prevent the worsening issues caused by COVID-19.

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, 82 are considered high incident counties for current spread of COVID-19, DeWine said.

DeWine added he will take on meetings on a county-by county level to help create unique strategies to combat the virus and pandemic.

“Please, please reconsider hosting gatherings of any size,” DeWine said.

A record number of Ohioans have taken advantage of early voting and requesting absentee ballots, now one week before Election Day in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said during the briefing.

Numbers show that the number of those requesting absentee ballots doubled from the presidential election four years ago, LaRose said. Over 3.2 million Ohioans have requested absentee ballots to date, with Tuesday being the final day to request an absentee ballot, LaRose said.

Early voting numbers have tripled compared to the last presidential election, according to LaRose.

Despite so many Ohioans choosing early or absentee voting options, LaRose said the state remains prepared and ready for Election Day next Tuesday.

“If you feel comfortable going to your grocery store, you should feel comfortable going to the polls," LaRose said.

LaRose added Election Day will not be cancelled, no matter the status of the pandemic.

“Election Day is unchangeable,” he said.

Other items to know today in the coronavirus pandemic:

• Springfield woman disputes reports she was in on plan to arrest Gov. DeWine
• 3.5 million rapid COVID-19 being sent to Ohio, with results known in as little as 15 minutes
• Deadline for CARES Act funding in Montgomery County approaching
• Coronavirus: Miami Valley Hospital enrolling patients for experimental antibody treatment

Latest data reported by Ohio Department of Heath:

As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been at least 202,740 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 5,239 deaths, and 18,433 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health. 161,704 people are presumed to have recovered from the virus in the state.

>>Local cases, deaths, presumed recovered reported to Ohio Department of Health

Ohio has an estimated population of approximately 11.7 million, census records show.

There have been 4,270,933 people tested for the coronavirus in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

A total of 20,263 health care workers have tested positive which is about 10 percent of the cases.

Cox Media Group