OHIO — One of the state's largest hospital systems made the move to change its visitor policy temporarily as COVID-19 cases climb in Ohio. 

OhioHealth's new policy, which went into effect at midnight Tuesday, allows individuals who are in inpatient departments to designate one visitor for the entirety of their stay. The designated visitor is allowed to stay overnight when appropriate.

Before the change, OhioHealth allowed two visitors per patient starting in April. 

The visitors must be 18 and older, pass screenings for COVID-19, wear a mask and must be asymptomatic. 

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted visitors unless it is an end-of-life situation.

There are exceptions to the policy, including: 

• Caretakers, if medical personnel deem the patient needs them
• Special circumstances, such as if a visitor is required due to a patient's emotional, spiritual or physical safety status
• If the patient is under 18, in which they can have two parents or guardians visit
• Patients in isolation may have one designated visitor between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. but visitors must receive instruction on special PPE
• Maternity patients, which can have up to two visitors
• End-of-life situations

In the last week and a half, Ohio has been reporting day-to-day case numbers at levels that haven't been seen since the beginning of the year. On Monday, the state reported 3,091 new cases, and on Friday, there were 4,855 new cases — the most Ohio has documented since late January. 

The most recent daily high was reported Thursday with 5,395 new cases, the most reported in one day since Jan. 28, according to state data. 

The state's 21-day average is now 3,999 cases and in the last seven days, the average sits at 4,460. 

All of Ohio’s 88 counties are now over 100 cases per 100,000 people, a stark contrast to June when cases were around 50 per 100,000 people. 

As of Monday, 2,412 COVID-19 patients were in Ohio’s hospitals and there were 696 patients in ICUs.