COVID week in review: More cases, hospital pauses non-urgent surgeries

Staff report
·1 min read
A man photographs fellow protestors during Friday's “Stop the Mandate” protest in front of Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover. He said his wife works at the hospital, and that "she has already been harassed." He did not want to be identified by name. The protesters were objecting to a federal mandate requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. A judge has halted implementation of the rule. ANDREW DOLPH/TIMES-REPORTER

The number of local COVID-19 cases has increased in the last two weeks, according to a report released by the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

There were 411 new cases in the seven-day period ending Friday. The county's overall number of new COVID-19 cases rose by 384 between Nov. 19 and Nov. 26. There were 273 new cases between Nov. 12 and Nov. 19.

As of Friday, 362 county residents had died of COVID-19, an increase of 11 over two weeks ago. The county's death rate is 2.5%.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tuscarawas County has a case rate of 380.49 per 100,000 persons, an increase of 104.36 from two weeks ago.

The county department reported on Friday that 39 more Tuscarawas County residents had been hospitalized with COVID in the past two weeks. Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover had 37 inpatients with COVID on Friday

Cleveland Clinic, including Union Hospital, will temporarily halt the scheduling of additional non-urgent inpatient surgeries requiring a hospital bed in most Ohio locations starting Monday. Essential and urgent surgeries, as well as outpatient surgeries not requiring an overnight stay, will continue.

The county health department will begin drive-up COVID-19 rapid antigen testing for detection of active infection on Monday. The health department is also offering COVID vaccines and booster doses. Both services are available by appointment. To schedule a shot, call 330 330-343-5555, extension 174 or 181, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County COVID deaths rise to 362, cases increase