DPHD: Active cases of virus fall by 280-plus

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The Delaware Public Health District’s COVID-19 numbers for Friday show a decline in active cases being reported in the county.

There were 1,137 active cases on Wednesday, which has dropped to 853 on Friday. In addition, total cases are now at 12,443, which is up only 39 from Wednesday. The total cases consist of 9,640 confirmed by testing and 2,803 probable based on symptoms.

More good news: There are 19,787 people who have completed isolation/quarantine, up more than 500 since Wednesday. The number of people currently in quarantine decreased by more than 300 to 1,504; and 11,515 Delaware County residents are considered to be recovered and released from isolation.

The 75th death due to COVID-19 in Delaware County was announced by the DPHD on Wednesday. There are 47 people currently hospitalized and 179 total hospitalizations, which is unchanged from Wednesday.

“We know it’s very difficult to get through to us these days!” the health district posted Friday morning on Facebook. “So, before you attempt to contact us with a vaccine question, check out our list of frequently asked questions specific to our registration process (at) https://bit.ly/3c4gbJw.”

As of Friday, there have been 11,014 Delaware County residents who have started on the vaccine, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That amounts to 5.27% of the county’s population. There have been 505 people who have started the vaccine in the last 24 hours. Women in the county are getting the vaccine by a 2-1 margin over men, similar to the rest of the state. The most vaccines in the county have been administered to those aged 40-49, but the highest percentage given by age group is those 80 and older.

Overall, 535,086 Ohioans have started on the vaccine or 4.5% of the state’s population.

The Ohio Department of Health’s coronavirus dashboard shows Delaware County continues to have the 14th-most cases in the state. The totals are now 14,305 cases, 162 hospitalizations, and 78 deaths. The DPHD states the discrepancies in totals between it and the ODH are because the portions of Columbus, Dublin, and Westerville that are in Delaware County are being handled by either Columbus Public Health or Franklin County Public Health.

Neighboring Franklin County has now exceeded 100,000 cases, while Cuyahoga has the most hospitalizations and deaths.

Governor Mike DeWine’s office notes, “All 88 counties have a level of spread that is at least three times more than what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers high incidence.”

The ODH reported Friday afternoon 853,982 total cases of coronavirus in Ohio (749,592 confirmed, 104,390 probable), up 11,000 from Wednesday. There have been 44,519 Ohioans hospitalized from the respiratory illness, with 6,485 admitted to Intensive Care. Nearly 200 people have died from COVID-19 in the state since Wednesday, bringing the total to 10,599 (9,464 confirmed and 1,135 probable). The cases range in age from 1 to 111 years old, with a median age of 43.

Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said Thursday the ODH will extend the Ohio’s 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

“The curfew does not apply to those going to and from work, those who have an emergency, or those who need medical care,” states a press release issued by the governor’s office. “The curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to the pharmacy. Picking up carry-out or a drive-thru meal and ordering for delivery is permitted, but serving food and drink within an establishment must cease at 10 p.m.”

In addition, vaccinations in the state will begin for those age 75 and older next week; and the state is purchasing two million at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests.

The number of Americans who have died from the pandemic is now 411,781, said the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center on Friday. There are 24,694,145 people in the U.S. who are confirmed to have gotten the infectious disease. Worldwide, 97.8 million people have gotten COVID-19, and more than 2 million people have died from it.

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By Gary Budzak

[email protected]

Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0906 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.

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