COVID-19 Transmission 'High' In Cuyahoga County: CDC

CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County received the highest possible COVID-19 transmission grade from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.

A county receives a COVID-19 transmission grade of "high" when it eclipses a case rate of 100 per 100,000 residents. Over the past week, Cuyahoga County's case rate was 194.64 per 100,000, according to CDC data.

At least 2,404 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed among Cuyahoga County residents in the past seven days, which is nearly 21 percent more than the previous week, the CDC said.

All of Ohio's 88 counties currently have "high" COVID-19 transmission rates, based on CDC guidelines. The state's COVID-19 surge continued on Thursday, with more than 7,000 new cases confirmed in 24 hours. And 240 Ohioans entered hospitals for COVID-19 treatment on Thursday, continuing the pressure on hospital workers across the state.

"We have been at the front line of this pandemic for about a year and a half and people are just exhausted, emotionally drained, and many have chosen to leave the work force," said Dr. Hector Wong, vice chair of pediatrics for Cincinnati Children's.

One in eight patients in Ohio hospitals has COVID-19, while one in five patients in intensive care are battling the virus.