Franklin, Pickaway counties have high COVID-19 transmission levels, according to CDC map

Micah Walker, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
The increase in cases has led to Columbus and the rest of Franklin County to implement a mask advisory.
The increase in cases has led to Columbus and the rest of Franklin County to implement a mask advisory.

For the second week in a row, Franklin County is experiencing high transmission levels of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 data tracker.

High transmission shows up as "orange" on the county map.

The case rate for this week is 205.81 per 100,000. That is slightly down from last week's 214 per 100,000. New hospital admissions also are down, from 10.7 per 100,000 last week to 10.4. Meanwhile, 3.5% of patients in staffed inpatient beds are confirmed with COVID-19, compared from 3.7% last week.

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Ohio Covid-19 cases 

This week, Ohio reported 29,876 new COVID-19 cases, as well as 705 new hospitalizations and 54 deaths, according to Ohio Department of Health's COVID-19 dashboard. This is a huge jump from last week's numbers, where 822 new cases were reported.

The increase in cases has led Columbus and the rest of Franklin County to implement a mask advisory. Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health are urging residents to wear masks indoors and in crowded places.

Surrounding Ohio counties remain mostly at level yellow

The counties surrounding Franklin County remain at a medium level of transmission or "yellow" on the CDC map. However, one exception is Pickaway County, which is seeing high transmission.

Yellow areas include Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, Madison and Union counties.

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The CDC has a number of recommendations that are triggered by an upgrade to high level of transmission. They include:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status.

  • If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease: Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection; consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed; talk to your health care provider about whether you need to take other precautions; have a plan for rapid testing if needed; talk to your health care provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. 

  • If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: Consider self-testing to detect infection before contact; consider wearing a mask when indoors with them.

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.

  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Updated COVID-19 boosters expected this fall

The rise in cases locally coincides with expectations from the Biden administration that a COVID-19 booster campaign with updated vaccines can begin in September. That's when Pfizer and Moderna have indicated doses will be available, it was reported this week in The New York Times.

"With updated formulations apparently close at hand, federal officials have decided against expanding eligibility for second boosters of the existing vaccines this summer," The Times reported Thursday. "The new versions are expected to perform better against the now-dominant Omicron subvariant BA.5, although the data available so far is still preliminary."

Micah Walker is the Dispatch trending reporter. Reach her at mwalker@dispatch.com or 740-251-7199. Follow her on Twitter @micah_walker701. 

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: COVID on rise in Columbus, Ohio area