Ohio hits new COVID-19 record on Friday

New coronavirus cases hit a new record on Friday as Ohioans headed into their first weekend under Gov. Mike DeWine's mandated statewide overnight curfew (Source: “Ohio sets new record with 8,808 new coronavirus cases,” Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 20).

The state reported 8,808 new cases on Friday, eclipsing the 8,071 record set a week ago.

Friday's record new cases, up from 7,787 on Thursday, doesn't account for a backlog of about 12,000 less reliable rapid antigen tests that the state is double-checking. The state always verifies those tests, but the number performed daily has exploded from hundreds to thousands, making it difficult to check within 24 hours.

The state also reported on Friday another 65 deaths and 398 new hospitalizations from the coronavirus. A total of 42 have been admitted to intensive care units in the last 24 hours.