Ohio's COVID-19 Case Rate Falls Slightly This Week

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio's statewide COVID-19 case rate is 143.8 per 100,000, down slightly from previous weeks.

When Ohio reaches a rate of 50 cases per 100,000 residents, and holds there for two weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine will remove all COVID-19 health orders. The governor celebrated the dip in Ohio's COVID-19 case rate this week.

"This is good news. It wasn't too long ago that Ohio was in the 700s [cases per 100,000 residents]," DeWine said.

DeWine also pointed to other metrics indicating the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing in Ohio.

Ten Ohio counties dropped a level in the state's color-coded warning system. Six counties went from red to orange, while four counties dropped from orange to yellow. Ohio also saw a slight decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations, falling to 859 this week.

"This week, Ohio’s long-term care facilities reported just 70 new COVID-19 cases," DeWine noted. "Compare that with the 157 new cases reported the previous week, and the 2,832 new cases reported at the peak of the pandemic in December."

The governor touted the state's decision to vaccinate its most-vulnerable residents first.

"In addition to wearing masks, social distancing and cleaning, there is no doubt of the significant impact vaccination is having on protecting nursing home residents and preventing severe illness and death among those most targeted by the virus," DeWine said.

While the state's COVID-19 rates may be declining, DeWine warned that the state is in a race against COVID-19 variants. To prevent further mutations, the governor wants to get all Ohioans vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Ohio will allow residents 16 and older to receive COVID-19 vaccines starting March 29.