COLUMBUS – There are now six central Ohio counties among the 19 counties on Ohio’s “red” alert list for COVID-19 outbreaks.
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As of 6:00 p.m., nearly 60% of Ohioans will have to wear a mask in public and, Gov. Mike DeWine says he’s still not ready to go to 100%, he’s not ruling it out either.
READ: DeWine vetoes bill weakening punishments for violating health orders.
“We may come to that,” he said during a regular televised coronavirus update from the Statehouse Thursday.
“My experience in life is that people react generally better when you ask them to do something, when you give them the evidence, than they do when you tell them to do something,” he said.
More detailed information on all Red Alert Level 3 counties can be found here: https://t.co/iTj0CstiPf#InThisTogetherOhio #StaySafeOhio #MasksOnOhio pic.twitter.com/W3fnaZx1sJ
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) July 16, 2020
The state reported 1,679 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Friday, the highest one-day total ever. Ohio has recorded 72,280 cases and 3,112 deaths since the pandemic began. The number of hospitalizations grew by 121 to 9,445.
DeWine says the state “is sliding down a very dangerous path” as the majority of the infections in each of the counties listed as red on the state’s color-coded alert system happened outside of congregate settings and some of it from travel to states like Florida and Arizona.
Texas, Florida and South Carolina reported record death tolls from COVID-19 Thursday.
Delaware, Licking and Union counties joined Franklin, Fairfield and Pickaway counties on the list of central Ohio counties at Level 3, the second-highest alert level on the state’s color-coded system, which DeWine likens to a weather forecast that warns residents of what may be coming in time for them to keep it from getting out of control.
Delaware County has reported 233 new cases of COVID-19 in the last two weeks, more than the entire nation of Ireland, DeWine said.
Licking County saw a 26.3% increase in the number of cases from the first week of July to last week.
“We have been tracking an increase in cases over the past several weeks and we have been working to continue our contact tracing efforts to assist with controlling the spread of the virus,” Health Commissioner Chad Brown said.
He urges county residents to stay home when they are sick, maintain social distancing, wear face coverings when they in public, and avoid large gatherings.
In Union County, 31% of the total number of cases in the county have been reported during the past 14 days and its per capita caseload experienced a sustained increase week over week for the past four weeks to 39.8 new cases per 100,000 residents during the week of July 8-14.
“The alert system is an early warning system. It is a reminder to pause and take a hard look at where our community is at. The alert level provides information that can be used in our risk-based decision matrix on a personal, business and community level,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Jason Orcena.
Athens County is the only county on the state’s “watch list” – at Level 3 but in danger of reaching the highest (“purple”) level after seeing a 700% increase in the number of people visiting doctors’ offices with COVID-19 symptoms.
Butler, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton counties were removed from the watch list but the threat of exposure and spread remains high.
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Passengers are now required to wear face coverings in John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Rickenbacker International Airport and on airport shuttle buses, officials with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority announced Thursday.
Face coverings had previously been “strongly encouraged” but not required for passengers but, with new mandates set by state and local government agencies, the authority says passengers are now required to wear face coverings in airports.
Face coverings continue to be required by most airlines, and airport employees have been required to wear face coverings since April 30.
Those who are not wearing a face covering, and do not declare an exemption, may be denied service, including shuttle, sky cap, ticketing, baggage, concessions and airline services, or asked to leave the airport.