Ohio COVID-19 Update: 18K New Cases, 299 Hospitalizations

OHIO — Ohio confirmed more than 18,000 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the state health department announced Monday.

December 2021 saw Ohio hospitals grappling with the most severe COVID-19 spread that has occurred throughout the history of the pandemic, the Ohio Hospital Association said. There were a record number of Ohioans hospitalized during December because of COVID-19, and those numbers continue to increase in January.

The state's COVID-19 numbers dipped slightly from recent highs on Monday, but continue to outpace rolling averages for new cases and hospitalizations confirmed daily. Here are Monday's COVID-19 numbers from the Ohio Department of Health:

• New cases — 18,042
• New hospitalizations — 299
• New intensive care admissions — 21

There are currently 6,747 Ohioans are hospitalized with COVID-19, the Ohio Hospital Association said. That means one out of every three people in an Ohio hospital are COVID-19 positive. For perspective, that's up 40 percent over the past three weeks and 174 percent over the past two months.

There are also 1,276 Ohioans in intensive care units battling COVID-19. Again, that means one out of every three intensive care unit patients is COVID-19 positive. That's also up 88 percent over the past two months.

The Ohio National Guard has been deployed to support strained hospitals throughout the state. Large hospital systems like the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals have delayed nonessential surgeries to preserve bed space and have even been forced to shutter some emergency departments due to staff outbreaks of COVID-19.

The state deployed 2,000 Guardsmen to bolster hospital ranks, a move that earned praise from the state hospital association.

"Ohio hospitals appreciate this important support at a critical time where caregivers are working aggressively to meet the health care needs of our communities," the Ohio Hospital Association said in a statement on Friday.