COVID-19 Surge In Ohio: 4,117 New Cases, 277 Hospitalizations

OHIO — Ohio broke its own summer records for most new COVID-19 cases and new COVID-19 hospitalizations recorded in a single day on Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, 4,117 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed among Ohioans. That's the most cases recorded in one day so far this summer.

For perspective, on Monday, 2,775 new cases were confirmed in the Buckeye State, and Ohio has averaged 2,623 new cases per day over the past three weeks.

Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 were also up on Tuesday, with 277 Ohioan admitted for coronavirus treatment. That's the most hospitalizations in a single day this summer. On Monday, 136 Ohioans were admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19 and the Buckeye State has averaged 119 COVID-19 hospitalizations per day over the past three weeks.

The continued surge of COVID-19 cases across Ohio is being driven by the highly contagious delta variant, a major concern as children return to in-person education this week and next week in Ohio. Ohio officials — like Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health — repeatedly addressed Ohioans in recent weeks, telling them the most effective way to protect both kids and adults is to get vaccinated and wear a mask in public.

The good news is this: Ohio is rapidly approaching a 60-percent vaccination rate among all eligible residents. Nearly 62 percent of Ohioans 18 and older are currently vaccinated, while 51 percent of the overall state has started the vaccination process.

Additionally, the FDA granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 16 and older, a landmark that Vanderhoff hopes will spur additional vaccinations. Approximately 4,500 Ohioans received a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, the state health department reported.