On September 17, Governor Mike DeWine released Ohio’s updated Public Health Advisory System map. New health data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health found that five counties currently have a very high risk of exposure and spread (Butler, Mercer, Montgomery, Portage, and Putnam).
A total of 69 counties stayed at the same level as last week, and one county, Preble, dropped from Level 3 to Level 2.
In addition to the five Level 3 counties listed above, five additional counties meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of high incidence (Athens, Delaware, Greene, Harrison, and Pickaway). Although these counties do not meet enough indicators to trigger a Red Level 3 Public Emergency, these counties have had more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks which could lead to rapid virus transmission if steps are not taken to slow the spread.
A county-by-county breakdown outlining the presence of COVID-19 in all of Ohio’s 88 counties can be found on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System’s website.