COVID cases in Franklin County, Ohio rise sharply in past week

On Dec 20, 2021

Ohio State had to cancel its home men's basketball game Tuesday against Tennessee-Martin because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the program, the second game the team canceled due to COVID.

Amid concerns over holiday gatherings and the fast-spreading omicron variant, COVID-19 cases in Greater Columbus and throughout Ohio rose sharply in the week ending Sunday.

Franklin County saw an increase of 20.9% in new COVID-19 cases. The jump statewide was even more pronounced, with cases surging in Ohio 30.4%.

COVID-19 in Ohio: The latest numbers on cases, hospitalizations, deaths

In the week ending Sunday, Ohio reported 65,729 cases were reported. The previous week had 50,408 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Ohio ranked fourth among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States increased 9.6% from the week before, with 913,491 cases reported. With 3.51% of the country’s population, Ohio had 7.2% of the country’s cases in the last week. Across the country, 22 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Ohio State men’s basketball: COVID-19 outbreak forces Buckeyes to cancel second game

Franklin County reported 4,769 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 3,945 cases and seven deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 189,085 cases and 1,887 deaths.

Delaware County reported 779 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 699 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 28,872 cases and 189 deaths.

Fairfield County reported 671 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 687 cases and four deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 26,170 cases and 302 deaths.

Licking County reported 1,515 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 763 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 29,107 cases and 357 deaths.

Pickaway County reported 237 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 240 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 12,785 cases and 157 deaths.

Union County reported 239 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 236 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 10,112 cases and 77 deaths.

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Within Ohio, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Cuyahoga County with 1,259 cases per 100,000 per week; Licking County with 857; and Lake County with 800. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Cuyahoga County, with 15,550 cases; Franklin County, with 4,769 cases; and Hamilton County, with 4,381. Weekly case counts rose in 41 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week’s pace were in Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Summit counties.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Ohio ranked 43rd among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 59.9% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 72.8%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

In the week ending Sunday, Ohio reported administering another 365,722 vaccine doses, including 53,491 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 1,256,507 vaccine doses, including 245,580 first doses. In all, Ohio reported it has administered 15,496,132 total doses.

Across Ohio, cases fell in 47 counties, with the best declines in Trumbull County, with 782 cases from 1,050 a week earlier; in Allen County, with 431 cases from 587; and in Mahoning County, with 929 cases from 1,074.

In Ohio, seven people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 154 people were reported dead.

A total of 1,847,140 people in Ohio have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 28,028 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 50,846,828 people have tested positive and 806,439 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Ohio’s COVID-19 hospital admissions rising

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Dec. 19.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Last week: 6,519
The week before that: 6,274
Four weeks ago: 4,803

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Last week: 92,085
The week before that: 91,676
Four weeks ago: 75,048

Hospitals in 28 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 30 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 23 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at [email protected].