5,000 Ohioans Now Hospitalized Due To Coronavirus

COLUMBUS, OH — More than 350 Ohioans entered hospitals for COVID-19 treatment in the past 24 hours.

That's well above the state's rolling average of 296 virus-related hospitalizations per day. Nearl 40 Ohioans also entered intensive care units for COVID-19 treatment, more than the state's average of 30 new ICU patients per day.

More than 5,000 Ohioans are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19. That's the most patients hospitalized at once due to the virus since the pandemic began. In September, less than 1,700 patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19.

The surge is straining many of Ohio's hospitals.

One hospital in northern Ohio had to call in a mobile freezing unit because it ran out of storage in its morgue, according to Dr. Andy Thomas of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

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While hospitalizations were up, health officials confirmed the fewest new COVID-19 cases since Nov. 18, with 6,631 new cases confirmed in the past 24 hours. However, the Ohio Department of Health said thousands of additional cases are being reviewed and could be added to the state's total number of new cases.

Here are all of Monday's numbers:

• New cases: 6,631
• New deaths: 30
• New hospitalizations: 357
• New ICU admissions: 38

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