'Substantial COVID-19 Transmission' In Ohio, Federal Report Finds

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio still has "substantial local transmission" of COVID-19, according to a federal report.

The White House COVID-19 report examines each state's unique COVID-19 circumstances and compares it week-by-week. In the Buckeye State, there has been a small drop in new COVID-19 cases confirmed, but an increase in people hospitalized by the virus, the report found.

Last week, Ohio's COVID-19 case rate, per 100,000 residents, was 89 (down 4 percent from the week prior). However, the rate of COVID-19 hospital admissions, per 100 beds, was up 7 percent from the week before.

While there have been some signs of improvement, Ohio still has "substantial local transmission" of COVID-19, the report declared.

Only one county in Ohio has a "low" transmission rate: Holmes County. Every other county is either classified as yellow, orange or red, meaning there is moderate to high COVID-19 transmission locally.

The full White House COVID-19 report can be read online.

Nearly 29 percent of Ohioans have now started the vaccination process, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That means approximately 3.4 million residents have received at least one part of the two-part vaccine.

More than 1.9 million Ohioans, 16.6 percent of the population, have completed the vaccination process.