Last week, the county saw the lowest weekly number of confirmed cases since May of 2020, with only three cases confirmed. The health commissioner noted that the uptick in cases shouldn’t be alarming just yet, however, as not enough time has passed to indicate if the increase is a trend.
Patterson also discussed the increase in cases that are related to the Delta variant of COVID-19, noting the Ohio Department of Health recently reported that the variant contributes to 30 percent of confirmed cases in the state. However, no cases related to the variant have been confirmed in Clark County as of Friday, Patterson said.
“It doesn’t mean it’s not here,” Patterson said of the Delta variant. “And if it’s not here yet, it will be, shortly.”
Patterson predicted an increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming months, particularly among people who have not received the vaccine.
The Delta variant is 10-25 times more virulent than the original strain of the virus, Patterson said.
A recent COVID-19 case in the county, reported last week, occurred with an individual who was fully vaccinated. The health commissioner stated that the COVID-19 vaccines are 90 percent effective in terms of preventing the virus, but for full-vaccinated individuals who do contract COVID-19, the virus will be much less likely to cause hospitalization or death.
Patterson said this individual may have come into contact with the virus through out-of-state travel.
In the county, 52 fully-vaccinated people have contracted COVID-19. This figure accounts for roughly 1 percent of county residents who have been vaccinated.
More than half of the county’s population are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, with children under the age of 12 not being authorized to receive the vaccine. In the past seven days, 230 additional people have received the COVID-19 vaccine, Patterson said.
Vaccination efforts continue in Clark County, with both chain and independent pharmacies, as well as the Rocking Horse Health Center, offering the vaccine. The health district is also vaccinating people six days per week, Patterson said.
As of Friday, 14,292 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Clark County, according to ODH. In addition, 528 hospitalizations and 307 deaths related to the virus have been reported.
ODH reported that as of Friday, nearly 41.3% of Clark County residents have completed the COVID-19 vaccine series.
Facts & Figures:
14,292: Number of coronavirus cases as of Friday in Clark County
307: Number of coronavirus deaths as of Friday in Clark County
58,482: Number of vaccination shots given in Clark County
41: Percentage of Clark County residents who have been fully vaccinated
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