COVID-19 infection rate remains high in Tuscarawas County

Rates of new COVID-19 infection in Tuscarawas County and Ohio remained high in the seven-day period ending Thursday, according to the Tuscarawas County Health Department. Hospitalizations of county residents increased during the same time frame.

During the reporting period ending Thursday, 86 of the state's 88 counties were experiencing medium or high levels of COVID-19 spread in the community spread, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tuscarawas County is one of 51 Ohio counties at the high level for COVID-19 transmission. This is the third consecutive week the county has been at the high level.

In areas with high transmission, the CDC recommends people wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and get tested if they have symptoms. Those at high risk for severe illness are advised to consider taking additional precautions.

Tuscarawas County had the same number of new COVID-19 cases in the week ending Thursday as in the previous week, at 188 new cases.

There were 16 new hospitalizations of Tuscarawas County residents with COVID-19 in the week ending Thursday, compared to two in the previous week.

The Ohio Health Department reported no new COVID-19 related deaths in county residents. A cumulative total of 514 Tuscarawas County lives have been lost to COVID-19.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: COVID-19 transmission rates high in Tuscarawas County