COLUMBUS, Ohio — COVID-19 cases in Ohio were underreported Tuesday as officials work to resolve a processing error, the Ohio Department of Health said.

What You Need To Know

• The state underreported cases due to a data issue


• Officials said they are working to upgrade old systems


• The issue occurred Monday afternoon, ODH said Tuesday

Ohio reported 4,163 cases on Tuesday, well below the seven-day average of 16,043 cases.

Officials said the issue arose from a long-term care facility submitting data to a state reporting system containing erroneously formatted entries. 

A backlog in the system was produced from invalid data rows in the facility’s reporting, which was received around 5 p.m. Monday. 

“The volume of invalid data rows caused a backlog in ODH’s [electronic laboratory reporting] processing systems; this then delayed the processing of confirmed COVID-19 cases from other facilities in (the Ohio Disease Reporting System). Thus, no lab results have been processed since 5 p.m. on Jan. 24," the Ohio Department of Health said.

Officials said Tuesday that cases will be artificially low until the backlog is cleared.

Earlier in the month, the Ohio Department of Health reported another issue that resulted in a backlog of cases. A system used to record cases reached its limits due to high statewide case numbers, officials said in a Jan. 14 statement. Case reports were inflated for several days when the backlog was cleared.

In its statement Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health said it is working to improve dated systems to reduced reporting hiccups.

“Throughout the pandemic, ODH has discovered the impacts of high user demand on antiquated technical systems. ODH continues to take steps to enhance real-time data analysis,” officials said.