Coronavirus Hospitalizations Continue Rise In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — As Ohio hospitals strain under the weight of the new coronavirus surge around the state, health officials continue to confirm new cases among Ohioans.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 5,874 new cases on Wednesday, down from Tuesday's record breaking number of confirmation, but up versus the state's average of 3,779 cases per day.

Hospitalizations also continued their surge, with 253 Ohioans entering medical facilities for COVID-19 care in the past 24 hours. That's up versus the state's average of 179 hospitalizations per day.

Gov. Mike DeWine will address the state at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Patch will provide updates from that news conference.

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Deaths were also up Wednesday, with 76 COVID-19-related deaths confirmed in the past 24 hours. That's the most virus-related deaths confirmed in the past three weeks. Deaths tend to lag behind other indicators, like new cases and hospitalizations.

Ohio hospitals are losing staff and hospital beds to COVID-19, according to medical officials. Nearly 300 caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic are missing work because of the virus, Dr. Robert Wyllie, of the Cleveland Clinic, said.

Here are all of Wednesday's COVID-19 numbers in Ohio:

• New cases: 5,874
• New deaths: 76
• New hospitalizations: 253
• New ICU admissions: 36

More reading:

• Pfizer Vaccine Could Be Ready By Next Month, Fauci Says
• Here's Which Ohioans Will Get The Coronavirus Vaccine First
• 'We're Just Kind Of Drowning:' Counties Say They're Overwhelmed With New COVID-19 Cases