The Undervaccinated Ohio Counties Most At Risk For COVID-19 Surge

OHIO — A surge of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio may be the direct result of the delta variant and vaccine hesitancy.

The virus accounted for approximately 2 percent of all cases in Ohio in early May. By the end of June, it was responsible for nearly 30 percent of cases in the state, said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer for the Ohio Department of Health.

The delta variant is extremely contagious and is spreading quickly across the United States and much of the world. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be effective against the delta variant.

But undervaccinated portions of the country are experiencing a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Baxter County, Arkansas — where less than a third of residents are vaccinated — is currently seeing a spike of its own.

In Ohio, Vanderhoff warned, areas with low-vaccination rates could see "hyperlocal outbreaks."

"Our current vaccines are effective against the delta variant," Vanderhoff said. "The bad news is that if you are partially or not vaccinated you are at a greater risk of hospitalization."

Ohio's metro counties — Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton — all have vaccinations rates over 50 percent, easily the highest in Ohio. Ohio's wealthiest county, suburban Delwaware, leads Ohio with a vaccination rate of 63 percent.

Rural counties, however, tend to have much lower vaccination rates.

Financial World Reacts

Stocks on Wall Street plunged Monday as investors feared how rising coronavirus cases could lead to more shutdowns worldwide, CNBC reported.

The Dow dropped 2.4 percent; the S&P 500 fell 1.9 percent, and the Nasdaq fell by 1.3 percent Monday. Stocks climbed 2 percent Tuesday in a rebound, but anxieties over the ascendance of the delta variant remain.

These Ohio Counties Are Most At Risk For Another Surge

Nearly all of Ohio's rural counties have vaccination rates hovering around 35 percent. These are the counties with the lowest vaccination rates in the state.

• Holmes County, 15 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Adams County 27 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Lawrence County, 28 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Highland County, 30 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Shelby County, 30 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Hardin County, 32 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Mercer County, 32 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
• Darke County 32 percent of all residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine