ELYRIA, Ohio — Lorain County Public Health announced Friday that it has seen an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases among children and teenagers over the past two weeks, numbers that coincide with a spike in overall cases statewide.
“So far, COVID-19 cases in school-age children have not resulted in the virus spreading through the schools,” said LCPH Health Commissioner Dave Covell. “Schools, teachers and coaches are doing a great job keeping as many barriers as possible between students and the virus. Before and after school, however, some young people are letting their guard down.”
The rise in juvenile cases in Lorain County has been attributed to sleepovers, kids not wearing masks in carpools and individuals sharing water bottles in social situations.
“It’s critical that parents talk to their children and - together - come up with ways on how to stay socially responsible,” said Covell. “Teenagers want to keep their friends, teammates and coworkers safe. They don’t want to miss out on sports and other favorite activities. Continuing safety measures will become even more important as we begin the winter months.”
On Thursday, the Ohio Department of Public Health reported 2,178 new cases, the highest number of cases in a single day since the pandemic began.
As of Thursday, Lorain County has 2,550 cases of COVID-19. By comparison, neighboring Cuyahoga County has 18,834 cases. To the west, Erie County has 1,088 cases and Huron County has 680 cases. To the south, Medina County has 1,693 cases.
During Gov. Mike DeWine’s weekly COVID-19 news conference, health officials attributed the number of new cases statewide to people not wearing masks at social gatherings.
CLICK HERE for more information on COVID-19 from Lorain County Public Health.
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