CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio’s coronavirus case rate per 100,000 residents dropped for the first time in a month, though 53 counties remain on red alert or above for concern of spread, the Ohio Department of Health said in its weekly update on Thursday.
The new rate of 185.8 cases per 100,000 over the last two weeks is a drop from the rate of 200 per 100,000 reported a week ago.
But even with the improvement, it is far from Gov. Mike DeWine’s stated goal of reaching 50 before he will lift health orders. DeWine said earlier this week that he may replace that target with another measure, such as vaccination rates, in deciding when he will lift his orders that include mask mandates and limits on crowds in public places.
The case rate was last at 50 in June, but was as high as 845.5 in mid-December before beginning a steady decline through the beginning of March. This rate is based on when people became sick or were first identified, not when the cases were reported by the state, and it excludes incarcerated individuals.
Though rates fell for both Cuyahoga (266.6 per 100,000) and Summit (258) this week, they are the fifth and sixth highest rates among Ohio’s 88 counties.
The highest rates are for Lucas (367.2), Williams (346.1), Erie (311) and Madison (283.9). Just two counties are below the threshold of 50 - Meigs (48) and Gallia (40.1).
The Ohio Department of Health on Thursday reported a rate of 185.8 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks, based on data available through Wednesday.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
The health department listed Franklin County on Level 4 purple alert for the second straight week. This is the highest level of concern in the alert system rolled out by DeWine in July - a concern level that comes with state health department guidance to “only leave home for supplies and services.”
Franklin County is the only county that has been on purple alert since Hamilton County in January.
A step lower for concern this week at Level 3 red alert are 52 counties, including Cuyahoga and the six neighboring counties - Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit.
The 53 red or purple counties compares with 50 a week ago, and 52, 51, 55, 66, 76, 80 and 84 the previous weeks over the last couple of months.
Red alert, according to the health department, means there remains a public emergency for increased exposure and spread, and that people should “exercise a high degree of caution.”
Thirty-three counties are listed at Level 2 orange and the remaining two (Gallia and Meigs) at Level 1 yellow.
The alert system takes into account more than just new case rates, but also trends in hospitalizations, doctor visits and emergency room visits related to COVID-19.
DeWine, however, in recent weeks has placed more of an emphasis on the case rate than the alert color-coding. Here are the rates for Greater Cleveland counties and how they have changed in recent weeks.
Cuyahoga County: 266.6 cases per 100,000 in this week’s report versus 280.9, 237.2, 194.3, 167 and 162 the previous five weeks.
* Geauga County: 124.9 versus 154.8, 128.1, 123.9, 106.8 and 122.8.
* Lake County: 207.3 versus 235.9, 192.9, 136.9, 126 and 149.5.
* Lorain County: 213.3 versus 232.1, 204.6, 198.8, 148.5 and 143.
* Medina County: 158.6 versus 178.6, 178, 178, 190.8 and 206.4.
* Portage County: 209.9 versus 213.6, 213, 211.1, 186.5 and 164.3.
* Summit County: 258 versus 300.9, 291.1, 267.3, 219 and 203.7.
Ohio coronavirus case rates per 100,000 residents by county over the last two weeks, as reported by the Ohio Department of Health on Thursday, April 22.Ohio Department of Health
The advisory system
Here’s a closer look at the advisory system introduced in early July. Alert levels are determined by the number of warning benchmarks met. But once a county reaches red alert, it does not drop unless its rate of new cases also drops below 100 per 100,000 over two weeks.
* 1. New cases - Alert triggered when there are 50 new cases per cases 100,000 residents over the last two weeks.
* 2. Increase in new cases - Alert triggered by an increase in cases for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the date of onset of symptoms, not when the cases are reported.
* 3. Non-congregate living cases - Alert triggered when at least 50% of the new cases in one of the last three weeks have occurred in outside congregate living spaces such as nursing homes and prisons.
* 4. Emergency rooms - Alert triggered when there is an increase in visits for COVID-like symptoms or a diagnosis for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks.
* 5. Doctor visits - Alert triggered when there is an increase in out-patient visits resulting in confirmed cases or suspected diagnosis for COVID-19 for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks.
* 6. Hospitalizations - Alert triggered when there is an increase in new COVID-19 patients for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the county or residence, not the location of the hospital.
* 7. Intensive Care Unit occupancy - Alert triggered when ICU occupancy in a region exceeds 80% of total ICU beds and at least 20% of the beds are being used for coronavirus patients for at least three days in the last week.
Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.
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