CLEVELAND, Ohio — Emergency room visits and deaths due to COVID-19 are on the rise, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although compared to the surges of the past, the number of COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations remains low, they are indeed on the rise this summer.
CDC data from the period between June 16 to June 22 show emergency room visits increased more than 23% from COVID-19 and death due to COVID was up 14.3%.
Genetic analysis of the circulating virus indicates that the rise in COVID-19 infection is driven primarily by the new FLiRT variants of the virus, specifically KP.3, and KP.2 which make up more than 50% of all current cases.
Changes in the dominant strains of circulating virus are to be expected said the CDC. FLiRT variants do not appear to cause more serious illness, but sore throats are the most common symptom in people who test positive for FLiRT variants, which could easily be attributable to another cause, or lead some to mistake COVID-19 infection for another type of viral illness.
Over the last week, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio increased from 1,745 to 2,049, marking the fifth straight week that COVID-19 cases have risen in the state, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Health on Wednesday. And this weekly increase came despite the data being reported a day earlier than normal – with just six days of data – because of the Thursday holiday.
Cases have been climbing since early June, following a period of decline beginning in early January.
At least 1,376,150 Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of 1,350 people from the prior week, the state reported. This represents 11.8% of the state’s population.
The total COVID-19 case count since early 2020 in Ohio has reached 3,756,672.
- · Previously: June 27 Ohio COVID-19 update
There were 83 Ohioans newly hospitalized in the last week, raising the total since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to 151,878. One additional person was admitted into the ICU, raising the total since 2020 to 15,821.
The state health department reported an additional eight deaths from COVID-19, raising the total to 44,018. Death reporting sometimes lags by weeks.
July 3 recap
- Total reported cases: 3,756,672, up 2049.
- Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,376,150, up 1,350.
- Total reported deaths: 44,018, up 8.
- Total reported hospitalizations: 151,878, up 83.
- Total reported ICU admissions: 15,821, up 1.
June 27 recap
- Total reported cases: 3,754,623, up 1,745.
- Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,374,800, up 1,521.
- Total reported deaths: 44,010, up 9.
- Total reported hospitalizations: 151,795, up 84.
- Total reported ICU admissions: 15,820, up 1.
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
