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Valley virus rates stay high

Ohio reported 3,783 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, which was the most for a single day since 4,140 were reported on Feb. 1. Friday was the 18th consecutive day in which Ohio exceeded 1,000 daily COVID-19 cases. That includes 11 that had more than 2,000 cases with five of them exceeding 3,000 reported cases. Those five days of more than 3,000 new cases occurred in the past eight days, including Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Data from the Ohio Department of Health shows that Trumbull and Mahoning counties have high hospitalization and death rates compared with other Ohio ...

Virus rates jump nearly tenfold in a month

The number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio has increased by nearly 10 times the amount from about a month ago with no signs of letting up. The state was at 259.2 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for the period between Aug. 5 and Wednesday, according to statistics provided Thursday by the Ohio Department of Health. That didn’t include the 3,446 new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, which was the most for a single day since 3,549 were reported Feb. 6. The ODH reported the state was at 27 cases per 100,000 people on July 15. This week’s number shows the rapid increase in COVID-19 ...

Staff cases outnumber patient cases at nursing homes

The number of COVID-19 cases at Mahoning Valley nursing homes and assisted-living facilities remained low again this week. But the most recent numbers suggest the reason why President Joe Biden announced Wednesday he is directing nursing homes across the country to require their employees to get vaccinated. In other words, staff COVID-19 cases outnumber patient cases at Valley nursing homes. Biden said he is directing the Department of Health and Human Services to draw up new regulations making employee vaccination a condition for nursing homes to participate in Medicare and ...

Fri. 9:04 a.m.: AP-NORC poll: COVID anxiety up, vaccine requirements favored

DENVER (AP) — Anxiety in the United States over COVID-19 is at its highest level since winter, a new poll shows, as the delta variant rages, more states and school districts adopt mask and vaccination requirements and the nation's hospitals once again fill to capacity. The poll from The ...

Fri. 8:31 a.m.: Hong Kong quarantine exemption for Nicole Kidman draws flak

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's granting of a quarantine exemption to Hollywood star Nicole Kidman is drawing criticism from lawmakers as the city tightens entry restrictions for international travelers to control the coronavirus. Kidman, who reportedly flew to Hong Kong last week from ...

YSU joins covering club

One of the few holdouts among state universities in Ohio, Youngstown State University reversed course and mandated face masks for everyone, including those vaccinated against COVID-19, in indoor public settings on campus. “Masking indoors is yet another way we can help our local communities stop the spread and keep all students, faculty, staff and visitors safe as we return to in-person classes and fully reopen campus on Aug. 30,” YSU President Jim Tressel wrote in a Wednesday statement. Masks aren’t mandated for those alone in their offices, while eating or outdoors. While ...