COLUMBUS — Figures released by the Ohio Department of Health show a slight dip in new coronavirus cases while hospitalizations are rising again.
The Health Department reported 1,236 new confirmed and probable cases on Monday, a slight increase from Sunday’s figure but down substantially from Friday’s record of 1,679. Another 1,047 new cases were reported Tuesday.
The state says 743 people were admitted to hospitals last week with COVID-19, the second-highest figure since 853 hospitalizations the week of April 15.
Governor Mike DeWine said Sunday an order this week could require masks to be worn in “a lot more counties.”
“We certainly wouldn’t rule out going statewide, we’re certainly looking at that,” DeWine said on NBC’s Meet The Press Sunday.
DeWine Tuesday postponed his regularly scheduled coronavirus briefing until Wednesday.
The state on Tuesday reported there had been 77,216 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 3,219 deaths since the pandemic began in early March.