Ohio COVID-19 Numbers Begin To Stabilize

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio's COVID-19 metrics appear to be plateauing, based off data from the state health department.

After weeks of falling COVID-19 numbers, Ohio's rolling average for new cases and hospitalizations are largely stable. Over the past three weeks, Ohio has averaged 2,154 new cases per day. On Tuesday, health officials confirmed 1,709 new COVID-19 cases among Ohioans.

Hospitalizations related to the virus are also holding steady. Over the past three weeks, Ohio has averaged 126 COVID-19-related hospitalizations per day. On Tuesday, 121 Ohioans entered hospitals seeking treatment for the virus.

Gov. Mike DeWine and health officials are expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to more Ohioans due to increased influx of vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson shot. DeWine hopes COVID-19 numbers will inch downward as the vaccination program expands.

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

• New cases: 1,709.
• New hospitalizations: 121.
• New ICU admissions: 12.

The state health department announced Tuesday it would stop reporting COVID-19 deaths on a daily basis and instead report them twice a week. Officials said they were having trouble keeping up with verification and reporting.

At least 911,474 Ohioans have contracted COVID-19 and recovered, the Ohio Department of Health said.

More than 14.5 percent of Ohioans have received at least the first part of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the state health department. More than 8 percent of Ohioans have received both COVID-19 vaccine shots.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 1.72 million Ohioans had received at least the first shot and 938,600 Ohioans have completed the vaccination process.