After months of decline, Ohio COVID-19 cases not dropping this week – The Columbus Dispatch

After months of steadily declining cases in Ohio, progress in reducingnew COVID-19 infections stalled out this week.

State health officials reported 1,551new cases on Friday, bringing the week's daily average to 1,506, a bit beneath the three-week average, but only three fewer than last week's average daily infections.

On Thursday, the state reported 2,104 new infections, about 500 above the three-week daily average, to markthe first time cases exceeded the 2,000-mark since March 3.

In a no-audience appearance at the Cleveland City Club on Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine said of the numbers, "We feel pretty good about where we are ... what is driving this down is the vaccine." Yet, he remains worried about more-contagious virus variants.

The state will eclipse 1 million coronavirus infections in coming days with the pandemic total standingat 997,336as Ohio nears the one-year mark since the state's March23 stay-at-home order.Slightly less than one in every 12 Ohioans has contracted the virus.

Amid limited testing for the strain, cases of the more-communicableB.1.1.7 virus variant detected in Ohio increased from 91 to 108 across 29 of Ohio's 88 counties, according to revised figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

State health officials fear thevariant that originated in the United Kingdom could become the dominant strain in Ohio. DeWine called the variant a "dark cloud" on Friday, saying, "The cycle indicates this should be coming back up. We're concerned."

The state on Friday reported the deaths of 348more Ohioans, boosting the total among state residents to 18,340. The increase rests partly in the state previously withdrawing deaths from the total until they wereverified by federal health officials.

The total number of coronavirus patients being treated in hospitals Friday was 855, down 30% from three weeks ago.

Another 81,656vaccinations were reported, bring the total of vaccines started to 2.6million or 23% of Ohio's population. A total of 1.5 million, or 13% of the population, havereceived second and final doses.

Ohioans age 40 to 49 and those with certain health conditions became eligible for shots on Friday, with all Ohioans age 16 and older now cleared to receive vaccinations beginning March 29 as supplies increase.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow

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After months of decline, Ohio COVID-19 cases not dropping this week - The Columbus Dispatch