COLUMBUS – Franklin County was downgraded from Level 4 — designated as purple — to “red” Level 3 on the state’s Public Health Advisory System as the rate of new COVID-19 cases, hospital visits and admissions declined.
The county is still experiencing “very high exposure and spread “ of the disease with 174.98 cases per 100,000, meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of “high incidence,” according to data released by the Ohio Department of Health Thursday.
The incidence rate of cases statewide fell for the second straight week, to 155.6 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks from 185.8 cases. Governor Mike DeWine has promised health restrictions would be lifted when the rate holds at 50 cases per 100,000 residents for two weeks.
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DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz on Friday dedicated a new memorial tree grove at Great Seal State Park in Chillicothe in honor of the victims and survivors of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Memorial Grove includes a grove of 15 newly planted trees surrounding a paved trail with benches to allow visitors “to comfortably reflect on the toll of the pandemic, honor lives lost, pay tribute to courageous frontline workers, and recognize the selfless actions of Ohioans to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” according to a release from DeWine’s office.
The remaining trees were planted by COVID-19 survivors, families of Ohioans killed by the virus, healthcare workers, first responders, teachers, students, local community leaders, and other frontline workers.
A total of 1,070,771 Ohioans have been sickened by COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The state reports that 1,016.805 of them have recovered but 19,188 have died.
COTA has announced service changes which begin on Monday, including the return of 14 express transit lines, in anticipation of more downtown employees returning to their workplaces this summer, transit authority officials said.
Among the services returning is the Zoo Bus, which runs between downtown and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Zoombezi Bay.
Service begins May 8 and will continue every weekend in May. Beginning Memorial Day, Zoo Bus will run daily through Labor Day.
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Over 3.67 million Ohioans have been fully immunized against the coronavirus, or 31.78% of the total population.
The state reported 1,200 Ohioans were being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals Thursday. There were 127 additional hospital admissions Thursday, bringing the total number of Ohioans who required hospitalization to 56,145.
The seven-day positive testing rate is 3.6%.