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The Numbers on COVID-19 in Northeast Ohio
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Back to all News ReleasesDecember 15, 2021 The Numbers on COVID-19 in Northeast Ohio
The recent uptick in cases of COVID-19 across the state and here in Northeast Ohio led to a flurry of media coverage of the stresses facing hospitals experiencing filled beds and tight workforce supply. As has been the case all along, the situation is constantly evolving. Over the last three weeks, Ohio has averaged 6,837 COVID-19 cases daily. What’s happening at the county level in Northeast Ohio?
According to the Ohio Department of Health, in The Center for Health Affairs’ nine-county geographic area, Ashtabula County has the highest case rate and, as expected given it has by far the largest population, Cuyahoga County has the largest number of cases.
When it comes to vaccinations, Lake County leads the region with the highest percentage of fully vaccinated people with Cuyahoga County not far behind, while Ashland County trails. In Ohio as whole, 54% of the population is fully vaccinated, compared to 61% nationally.
|
County
|
Cases per 100K
Over 2 Weeks
|
Cases
Over 2 Weeks
|
Population
|
Fully Vaccinated
|
|
Ashland
|
833.9
|
446
|
53,484
|
39.1%
|
|
Ashtabula
|
1,033.5
|
1,005
|
97,241
|
47.9%
|
|
Cuyahoga
|
850.2
|
10,500
|
1,235,072
|
59.1%
|
|
Geauga
|
701.6
|
657
|
93,649
|
57.3%
|
|
Lake
|
946.3
|
2,178
|
230,149
|
60.7%
|
|
Lorain
|
943.7
|
2,924
|
309,833
|
58.5%
|
|
Medina
|
927.4
|
1,667
|
179,746
|
59.5%
|
|
Portage
|
840.2
|
1,365
|
162,466
|
52.9%
|
|
Summit
|
832.7
|
4,505
|
541,013
|
58.2%
|
Overall, counties in Ohio are averaging 718 cases per 100,000 over the last two weeks. Nine counties, all in the northern part of the state – Crawford, Williams, Marion, Sandusky, Ashtabula, Carroll, Hardin, Fulton and Allen – have rates of greater than 1,000 per 100,000.
The National Picture
At a national level, the Northeast section of the country is where cases are growing the fastest. According to The New York Times, the states with the five highest rates of cases per 100,000 are all in New England with the exception of Michigan, with New Hampshire and Rhode Island leading. The greatest increase in cases in the last 14 days has been in Connecticut, which has seen a 185% increase, followed by Washington, D.C., at 149% and Maine at 138%.
Flu Vaccines are Critical
As flu cases are picking up in Ohio, to avoid a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19, The Center is spreading the word about the importance of getting a flu shot, especially this year and especially now, when hospital resources are already stretched.
For more on The Center’s COVID-19 response efforts, contact us.