Last week Champaign County hit just one of the indicators - new cases per capita - the state uses to determine levels. This week, the county hit two indicators: new cases per capita and proportion of cases not in community spread.
The seven indicators the Ohio Department of Health uses when judging what level to give a county: new cases per capita, sustained increase in new cases, proportion of cases not in a community spread, sustained increase in emergency department visits for COVID-like illness, sustained increase in outpatient visits for COVID-like illness, sustained increase in new COVID hospital admissions and intensive care unit bed occupancy.
Champaign County is also ranked number two in the state for counties with the highest rate of coronavirus based on population. The county is ranked with 203.2 cases per 100,000 from July 29 until Monday. Mercer County is ranked first.
Clark County came in at 30th with 88.0 cases per 100,000. Champaign County has a population of about 39,000 people, according to the U.S. Census. Clark County’s population is about 134,00 people.
The Springfield News-Sun reached out to the Champaign Health District about the county’s increase in cases and upgraded level and did not receive a response. However, CHD Health Commissioner Gabe Jones has said previously he was concerned about the growing number of cases in the county.
“Now more than ever we urge all Champaign County residents to please take all precautions you can to protect yourselves and others,” Jones said after the district announced a coronavirus outbreak at an Urbana farm.
Michael Farms, located at 5089 Urbana-Moorefield Rd., had 39 employees test positive for the virus, as of Aug. 7.
Clark County was given a level 2 for the second straight week on Thursday. The county’s level has fluctuated — at one point hitting level 3, commonly referred to as the red light level, before returning back to level 2 the following week.
This week, Clark County hit the same three indicators as it did last week; new cases per capita, proportion of cases not in a community spread and sustained increase in outpatients visits for COVID-like illness.
According to the ODH’s website, as of Thursday afternoon, Clark County had 1,218 cases, 13 deaths and two probable deaths of the coronavirus. Champaign County had 192 cases and two deaths.
On Thursday, Ohio has reported 105,426 total cases and 3,755 deaths of the coronavirus, according to the ODH. Between Wednesday and Thursday, 1,176 new cases and 21 new deaths were reported.
2: Champaign County’s level on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System
2: Clark County’s level on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System
21: New deaths reported over one day period in Ohio
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