Lorain County Hits Worst COVID-19 Classification
AVON, OH — Lorain County has now hit the worst COVID-19 classification in Ohio.
The county became "purple" on Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health announced. Franklin County was the first county to become purple, last week, and now Lorain, Montgomery and Lake counties are also purple.
"Montgomery, Lake and Lorain are moving to purple in the alert system because they are experiencing sustained increases in outpatient, emergency, and hospital visits by COVID-19 patients," the Ohio Department of Health said in a statement.
There are now 11 counties on the "watch list," meaning they could become purple next week: Adams, Clermont, Hamilton, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Warren and Wood counties. Those counties could be classified as purple this week, but the state's classification system requires purple counties to meet certain criteria for two straight weeks.
"The ongoing high prevalence of the virus throughout Ohio, as reflected in today’s alert system update, is very dangerous as we move into the holidays,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “We have heard again this week from hospital administrators and front-line staff about how they are overwhelmed. It is imperative that Ohioans take the virus and this current situation seriously.”
This article originally appeared on the Avon-Avon Lake Patch
