COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eight Counties are now purple in Ohio's latest advisory map as Gov. Mike DeWine warns hospitals are facing a worsening crisis. 

What You Need To Know

  • Montgomery, Lorain, Lake counties remained in the purple

  • Richland,  Medina, Summit, Portage, and Stark counties became purple

  • Franklin County has dropped from purple to red

Montgomery, Richland, Lorain, Lake, Medina, Summit, Portage and Stark counties are now in Purple Alert Level 4 — the worst indicator on the state's four-level scale for COVID-19 spread. Franklin County has dropped from the purple to Red Alert Level 3, the second-highest indicator. 

Cuyahoga, Madison and Fairfield counties were on a watch list, meaning they are at risk to enter the purple alert status.

DeWine raised concern of high incidence rates in Darke, Hardin, and Muskingum counties which lead the state in terms of cases per 100,000 residents in the last two weeks.

On Thursday, Ohio reported 8,921 cases, 82 deaths, and 396 hospitalizations.

The state reported 5,142 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 1,204 patients were in ICUs. There were 708 patients on ventilators.

The seven-day positivity rate is 15.4%, which forced Ohio to add itself to its map of states where travel is unsafe. The threshold is 15%.

"Now we're one of those states we are warning people about," DeWine said. "Not only do hospitals remain in crisis, but the crisis is worsening and getting more serious." 

Dr. Andrew Thomas, Ohio State Wexner's chief clinical officer, said the number of ICU patients particularly in rural hospitals is “unsustainable.” He said hospitals are delaying surgeries, like knee surgeries and back surgeries, to reduce non-COVID-19 patient numbers.

“No one wants to see that,” he said. “Hospitals are making difficult decisions."