Coronavirus On Upswing In Ohio: Nearly 1,500 New Cases Confirmed

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio set a new four-month high for COVID-19 deaths confirmed in a 24-hour window.

The Buckeye State has seen an upswing in key COVID-19 metrics, including new cases, deaths and hospitalizations. On Friday, the Ohio Department of Health announced it had confirmed nearly 1,500 new cases and 88 COVID-19-related deaths.

Over the past three weeks, Ohio has averaged 24 COVID-19-related deaths per day. Friday's 88 confirmed deaths is the most COVID-19-related deaths since early summer.

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Ohio also saw a surge in new COVID-19 cases on Friday. In the past 24 hours, the Ohio Department of Health has confirmed 1,495 new cases of the virus. That's easily the most cases confirmed in one day in at least a month.

The surge in new cases has led to fewer beds being available in hospitals throughout Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine took to social media to urge Ohioans to wear masks and practice social distancing. He said hospital beds are increasingly occupied by COVID-19 patients and state officials need to control the surge in new cases.

Here are all of today's COVID-19 numbers:

• New cases: 1,495
• New deaths: 88
• New hospitalizations: 82
• New ICU admissions: 15