COLUMBUS – Ohioans were cautioned Thursday to return to being vigilant about social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing, after cases of COVID-19 hit their highest mark since mid-April.
According to figures from the Ohio Department of Health, the latest round of cases disproportionately struck younger Ohioans, with 60% being reported among people 20 to 49.
The average age of Ohioans getting the disease once thought to be a particular threat to the elderly has now dropped to 42.
Governor Mike DeWine called Thursday’s numbers, including 892 new cases and 17 more deaths, “chilling.” It was the fourth-highest one-day total since the coronavirus outbreak began in March.
The state reported another 987 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Friday for a total of 48,638 with 2,788 deaths.
DeWine also expressed concern about the spread of the disease in Hamilton County and the surrounding areas and used that data to hammer home his message about wearing masks in public, maintaining social distancing and washing hands frequently.
“Even if the spread is half what it is somewhere else, there’s still spread. So, if you can knock that down even further, you may save a life. You may save someone from being in the hospital,” he said.
The effective reproductive ratio, known as the “R naught” number, which measures how many people will be infected by a sick individual, has doubled over the last 10 days there.
Dr. Rick Lofgren , of UC Health, explained that the increase is not only due to the tests being performed, but shows a greater presence of COVID-19 in the area, and that it is spreading in the community.