Ohio Confirms 7,000 New Coronavirus Cases, Again Breaking Record

COLUMBUS, OH — A day after Gov. Mike DeWine issued a new, stricter mask mandate, health officials confirmed a record-breaking 7,101 new coronavirus cases among Ohioans.

All of Ohio's counties now have significant local spread of COVID-19, DeWine said. Nearly every Ohioan is living in a "red" county, meaning there is a "very high" risk of contracting the virus locally.

The governor said he is considering shuttering bars and restaurants, along with gyms, because patrons are not wearing masks within those businesses. Anytime someone is indoors, for extended stretches of time, without a mask, their risk of contracting the virus goes up, DeWine said.

"We're going to have to issue the actions that need to be taken," the governor warned.

While he hasn't issued any new shutdown orders, he has re-issued the state's mask mandate and is urging Ohioans to avoid social gatherings.

"We can slow this down, we can turn this around," the governor said.

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Despite the spiking COVID-19 numbers, DeWine said he is spreading a message of hope. He believes a coronavirus vaccine could arrive in December and the state is ready to distribute it quickly.

He also believes Ohioans will rally together to wear masks and practice social distancing, and subsequently tamp down the spread of COVID-19.

Financial Aid

Ohio is setting aside $30 million to assist the state's 113 local health departments. Each department will receive $200,000 and will determine how to best use those funds.

"The remaining money will be used to hire contact tracers to support local health departments. Those tracers would be able to deploy wherever they are needed across the state to assist in identifying individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and prevent further spread," DeWine said Thursday.

Straining Hospitals

Prior to this most recent wave, the most COVID-19 patients being cared for in hospitals statewide was 1,100. As of Wednesday, there approximately 3,000 COVID-19 patients in Ohio hospitals.

Intensive care units(ICU) have been hit particularly hard. Last month, there were 240 patients in ICU spaces. There are now more than 700 Ohioans in ICUs because of coronavirus.

The Cleveland Clinic is now postponing some nonessential surgeries as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to spike in Ohio.

The Flu

DeWine also announced a new dashboard to measure the flu's spread in Ohio. Health officials have been urging Ohioans to get a flu shot to prevent a double-pandemic from spreading through the state and straining hospital systems.

"We can't tell yet how severe this season is going to be," DeWine said. "We ask everyone to get a flu shot."

Today's Numbers

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

• New cases: 7,101
• New deaths: 35
• New hospitalizations: 268
• New ICU admissions: 21

More reading:

• Ohio Re-Issuing Mask Order With New Provisions
• Cleveland Clinic Postponing Some Surgeries Due To COVID-19 Spike
• Pfizer Vaccine Could Be Ready By Next Month, Fauci Says
• Here's Which Ohioans Will Get The Coronavirus Vaccine First