SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — COVID-19 cases are on the rise once again in Summit County, health officials said.
A new measurement tool by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the county moving upward, from Community Level low/green to Community to Level medium/yellow, Summit County Public Health said in a release.
The measurement tool helps communities make decisions based on health data, the health department said. The tool has three levels: Low is green, medium is yellow and high is orange.
In northern Ohio, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Ashtabula, Wood and Lucas counties have risen to Community Level high/orange, according to the CDC.
The levels are determined by the number of COVID-19 cases, number of hospital admissions and percentage of hospital beds in use by COVID patients.
Summit County health officials used the following metrics to determine the county has reached the Medium COVID-19 Community Level:
- A case rate of 228.65 per 100,000 population
- New COVID-19 admissions of 7.6 per 100,000 population
- Inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19 at 4%
Based on the rising number of cases locally, both the CDC and local health officials urge residents to protect themselves by keeping COVID-19 vaccinations current, wearing masks in public and wearing them indoors when safe distancing isn’t possible.
Residents with symptoms are also encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 and stay home when they’re ill.
Summit County Public Health will host free drive-thru vaccination clinics at the health department parking lot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 and Tuesday, July 19. No appointment is necessary. The health department office is at 1867 W. Market St.
Indoor vaccination clinics are also scheduled throughout the month of June at various locations around Summit County.
Summit County residents can visit the health department website for more information or call the COVID-19 Call Line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays at 330-926-5795.
