DeWine urges Ohioans to reconsider attending gatherings of any size

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is urging citizens to reconsider attending gatherings of any size due to the increasing numbers of community spread across the state.

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

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, 82 are considered high incident counties, meaning the county has more that 100 cases per 100,000 residents over a two week period.

>>Test positivity rate holds steady as about 2,500 new cases reported in Ohio Tuesday

Many of the recent surges in cases across the state have been traced to gatherings, DeWine said. High-risk gatherings include game day watch parties, large weddings, crowded bars, house parties, and extended family gatherings, DeWine said.

In the past two weeks, hospitalizations have gone up more than 38% in the Miami Valley.

“We have seen peaks in the hospitalizations before, once in the spring then once in the summer.... the current increase is noticeably sharper steeper than the increase we saw in the summer peak,” according to Gov. DeWine.

Currently, there are more than 14,000 patients in the hospital and 200 of those patients in the Miami Valley.

Gov. DeWine went on to say, “Again, we’re not to the point where any of our hospitals are overflowing but the trend lines are not good.”

Six counties in the Miami Valley area are in advisory level red, That means there a very high chance for exposure and spread.

Seven other counties in the area are in advisory level orange with is considered to be increased exposure.

At this time no counties in Ohio have reached a level four threat, severe exposure.

Cox Media Group