CDC flashes a caution sign about rising COVID-19 levels in some Cincinnati area counties

Brooks Sutherland, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Seven local counties, including Hamilton County, have been upgraded to medium COVID-19 community level by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention.
Seven local counties, including Hamilton County, have been upgraded to medium COVID-19 community level by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention.

The risk level for COVID-19 has been raised in seven counties in the Cincinnati region, including Hamilton County, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.

The three most populous northern Kentucky counties – Boone, Kenton, Campbell – also currently have medium community levels, as do Bracken, Gallatin and Grant counties.

The higher or yellow risk level triggers a set of CDC recommendations for preventative steps.

  • People at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as those with weakened immune systems, should talk with their doctor about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.

  • Everybody should make sure they're up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

  • Anybody who has symptoms should get tested.

The CDC determines COVID-19 community levels by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

More: COVID-19 vaccines for infants, toddlers available at Cincinnati Children's

More: Gravity Diagnostics to close COVID-19 testing sites in Covington, Florence

If a community is upgraded to a high or red level, the agency recommends wearing a mask indoors in addition to all of the same precautions required for medium community levels.

Six counties in northern Kentucky have medium community levels.
Six counties in northern Kentucky have medium community levels.

The latest data from the Health Collaborative's Situational Dashboard published on July 8 shows the 16-county region has 126 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, while 19 are being treated in the intensive care unit. It's a slight increase from 100 hospitalizations the week prior. Medical-surgical beds are 96% full, while ICU beds are 92% full, the data shows.

"Approximately 4% of all patients in hospitals right now are positive for COVID-19," the dashboard says. "Regarding vaccination, 66% of the regional population has started their vaccine series, 60% has received their initial 2-dose series, and 30% have been boosted."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Local counties upgraded to 'medium' COVID-19 levels