COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio reported the largest number of new coronavirus cases in the state since April 20 on Thursday.
The state reported 892 new cases, bringing its total to 47,651.
Ohio's three largest counties: Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton, all reported more than 100 new cases.
DeWine said that the number of new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday is the fourth-highest number since the outbreak began.
The highest days so far were between April 18 and 20, but those included cases from significant testing in Ohio’s prisons.
“So, this is, in essence, the highest number of cases that we that we have had,” DeWine said.
DeWine said that on June 23, the latest day testing data was available, 17,091 Ohioans were tested for coronavirus.
“So you can see this is a new high for tests,” DeWine said. “We’re happy about that. It’s not where we want to be. We need to get much higher. But we’re getting great cooperation from people around the state. A lot of people are engaged in getting these tests."
While the number of Ohioans being tested reached an all-time high this week, DeWine said that analysts he talked to do not believe this increase in testing is the only reason for the increase in new cases.
“The positivity rate has been between four and six is holding in there,” DeWine said while showing newly-available data, showing the percent of positive tests currently at about 5%.
“So, in spite of the significantly increased testing, the positivity rate is holding there at five," DeWine said.
Dr. Richard Lofgren, President and CEO of UC Health, spoke to DeWine at length about the increase in cases specifically in Hamilton County, and how data has shown an increase in the reproductive ratio there - meaning that COVID-19-positive individuals are spreading the disease to more people, on average.
Lofgren explained that the data is showing the increase in cases is due to community spread, and not just an increase in testing.
“So going back to the point about this uptick of the percentage of individuals who test positive in the younger group,” Lofgren said. “This is really indicative that the increased number of cases we’re seeing is not just because we’re doing more tests. It really does in fact indicate that there is more disease and more disease that’s spreading in our community.”
DeWine said almost 60% of the new cases are from people in the 20 to 49-year-old range.
Ohio reported 17 deaths from the virus, which was below the 21-day average.
The state reported 55 hospitalizations and 11 ICU admissions, which were both below the 21-day average.
Editor's note: The data in the charts above is updated daily. After 24 hours, it may not reflect the statistics on the date this story was published.
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