Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, updated Ohioans about the state of the COVID-19 virus in Ohio on August 17.
“The spread of the Delta variant has dramatically accelerated since I last spoke 10 days ago. We are at the highest level of cases since February,” said Gov. DeWine.
On August 17, 3,235 positive COVID-19 cases were reported. To put that into context, there have been three days in the last week with more than 3,000 newly reported cases. Prior to the past week, there hasn’t been a single day with over 3,000 newly reported cases since February.
While vaccinations across the state continue, for children ages 12 to 17 years old, only 35% of them are currently vaccinated.
“Delta isn’t just a danger to adults. While children are less likely than adults to get severely ill from COVID-19, they are not invincible and most certainly can, and do, become ill. And, indeed, our children’s hospitals continue to see tragic cases of previously healthy children struck down by this virus and now requiring intensive medical care. And, of course, when either children or adults become sick from COVID-19, they can spread it to others who may then suffer severe health outcomes, or even death, said Dr. Vanderhoff. “The bottom line is that COVID-19 is a very bad virus, even for our children. Without question, vaccinations are the best protection one can have from COVID-19.”