COVID cases, hospitalizations continue to soar in Ohio; DeWine calls for local ‘defense teams’

Ohio once again shattered its daily record for new coronavirus cases on Friday as 3,845 more residents tested positive (Source: “Ohio sets more COVID records with 3,845 new cases and hospitalizations at all-time high,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 30).

Friday's new cases were 7.1% higher than the previous record of 3,590 new cases set Thursday, state Department of Health data shows. It marks the second time Ohio's newly reported cases have exceeded 3,000 a day and the 15th day above 2,000 cases. A total 1,629 Ohioans remained hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, which is the highest number since the pandemic began in March. The total hospitalized on Friday represents a 6.1% increase, data shows.

Given the soaring number of cases and hospitalization, Gov. DeWine on Thursday called on leaders of each county and community to create COVID-19 “defense teams” (Source: “Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls for local coronavirus ‘defense teams,’ acknowledges there’s no solid data on cause of recent alarming spread,” Cleveland.com, Oct. 29).

DeWine said defense teams would be made up of county commissioners, mayors, local hospital leaders, the local health commissioners and business, religious and other leaders. The teams would look at COVID-19 data, inventory their assets and act.