Coronavirus Surge: 1,205 New Cases, 80 Hospitalizations

COLUMBUS, OH — For the third consecutive day, Ohio recorded more than 1,200 new COVID-19 cases in a single day, the Ohio Department of Health announced.

In the past 24 hours, Ohio confirmed 1,205 new COVID-19 cases among residents. Additionally, 80 Ohioans entered hospitals for COVID-19 treatment. Ohio had been averaging 631 new cases per day and 47 new hospitalizations per day, the state health department said.

Ohio officials — from ODH chief medical officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff to Gov. Mike DeWine — have spent weeks urging residents to get vaccinated. Both Vanderhoff and DeWine have spoke about the unique threat of the delta variant of COVID-19 and its surge in Ohio.

The variant is more contagious than the alpha variant and may be more dangerous to those who contract it, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. The coronavirus vaccines are effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, public health officials said. But the delta variant still poses a threat to all Ohioans.

Vanderhoff previously described this new surge in cases as a "pandemic of the unvaccinated."