COLUMBUS — Saying that Ohio is in “a very dangerous situation,” Gov. Mike DeWine hinted that additional measures might be forthcoming to slow a surge in coronavirus cases.
“I think we can all agree that we can’t let our hospitals get to the point where healthcare is threatened. The curfew, mask-wearing, retail inspection have helped, but they haven’t helped enough. We’ll have to do more. We don’t have a choice,” he said during his Friday briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state reported 10,469 new confirmed and probable cases of the disease Saturday, its third-highest daily count since the pandemic began in March, bringing the total number of infections to 467,432. Reports on thousands of test results have been delayed by a backlog at some labs, which may have led to inflated daily totals.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Ohio grew to 6,946 with 286 new hospital admissions. The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 hit an all-time high in the U.S. on Thursday at 100,667, and hospitals were at the breaking point.
Arizona on Friday reported more than 5,000 new known COVID-19 cases for the second straight day as the number of available intensive care beds fell below 10%. Nevada reported 48 new deaths on Thursday, the deadliest day since the onset of the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s top health official says intensive care beds could be full this month.
The number of Ohioans currently hospitalized has declined by 256 since Dec. 1 with 26.5% of the state’s inpatient capacity still available.
Ohio’s seven-day average rate of positive coronavirus tests was 15.8%.
Facing a deadline on Friday to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine, DeWine said emergency medical responders along with health care workers and others caring for COVID-19 patients will be first in line for initial doses. He said the next class will be vulnerable people who live together and those who care for them, such as nursing home residents and staffers.
DeWine says Ohio is on track to receive more than 650,000 doses this month from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna.