Mary Alice Reporting – The Ohio Health Department provided a Wednesday update on COVID-19.

With case numbers generally on the decline as of January, death rates due to the coronavirus have also decreased.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says the virus is still there but Ohio case totals are a fraction of what they were in January, and he says some of this is due to fewer people getting tested.

“Or they’re not reporting test results. That is certainly a factor but even taking that into account, it’s clear from looking at the numbers that we’re still doing well when it comes to the volume of severe disease we’re dealing with.”

The number of Ohioans hospitalized for the virus is currently 582 and that’s compared to the peak of 6,700 on January 11th, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.

Vanderhoff adds that weekly averages per deaths in the state has declined 16% over the past three weeks.

“What this tells us is that immunity, especially from vaccines, is making a difference. About two-thirds of eligible Ohioans now have started their vaccine series and more than 60% have had two doses.”

The latest Centers for Disease Control community map, all but one of Ohio’s 88 counties is green, which represents low levels.  

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