COLUMBUS — The Ohio Health Department is reporting a second consecutive daily spike in coronavirus cases.
Department data released Friday shows 609 new cases from a day earlier.
That follows a spike of 700 reported Thursday.
The daily case count reflects test results received by the Health Department in the past 24 hours. Those tests were typically conducted within the past 36 hours, though people could have experienced symptoms within the past two weeks.
Governor Mike DeWine says there has been a “worrisome” rise of coronavirus cases in southwestern Ohio, including in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas, and health officials are calling attention to an increased number of cases in children in Cleveland.
The governor said the increases come from spikes in nursing homes, distribution centers and churches, among other places.
The counties in question are Clark, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Warren. DeWine announced Wednesday at least 200 employees from the Dole Fresh Vegetables plant in Springfield, in Clark County, tested positive for the coronavirus.
DeWine said he’s in contact with local doctors and mayors and the Ohio National Guard will begin widespread testing in the area.
DeWine says the uptick is a reminder that the coronavirus is still active in Ohio and people still need to take precautions but credited the precautions Ohioans have taken for preventing larger resurgences of the virus seen in other states.
“We’re now in a phase of ‘how do we live with this?’ This is a stark reminder that this virus is very much with us,” he said during a coronavirus briefing Thursday at the Statehouse.
The state reported a total of 43,731 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Friday and 2,667 deaths.
University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland is reporting that doctors there have seen an increase in the percentage of children testing positive for COVID-19, which they attribute to the businesses, parks, child care centers and other public places reopening after months under lockdown to control the spread of the disease.
“It’s to be expected as the state opens that we’re going to start to see more positive kids, but that rate has been going up, and it is something we’re keeping our eye on. It hasn’t gone up dramatically, about 5 to 6 percent or so, but it has been a steady increase, and it has not stopped increasing as of yet,” said Dr. Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease physician and the hospital’s associate medical director for infection control.
Edwards said that hospital admissions for COVID-19 in children at Rainbow Babies have also increased, as have cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.
Symptoms of that sometimes serious ailment include high fever, rash, red eyes, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains.
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Casinos, racinos, amusement parks and water parks reopen Friday in Ohio after weeks of being shut down due to the coronavirus.
The Columbus Museum of art is reopening to members June 23 and to all visitors June 30. Visitors will require a dated, timed admission ticket, available online by phone.
Columbus Metropolitan Library is expanding its limited services to five more branches next week. Starting Monday, June 22, limited services will be available at the Parsons Branch, 1113 Parsons Ave.; Whitehall, 4445 E. Broad St.;
Starting June 24, limited services will be available at the Barnett Branch, 3434 E. Livingston Ave.; Driving Park, 1422 E. Livingston Ave. and Marion-Franklin, 2740 Lockbourne Rd.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with no service on Sunday.
This will bring the total number of branches offering limited services to 11, including the Main Library and Franklinton, Karl Road, Linden, Martin Luther King and Northern Lights branches.
At limited services locations, customers can pick up and return Items, reserve a computer, print, copy scan and fax and can find employment help at the Karl Road branch only.