The number of confirmed and probable coronavirus cases reported to the Ohio Health Department has risen slightly while the number of reported deaths sharply increased, officials said Tuesday.

Gov. Mike DeWine said the increase in the number of cases reported Tuesday can’t be explained simply by an increase in testing.

Ohio now has nearly 52,000 confirmed and probable cases, with a one-day reported increase of 743 compared to 737 on Monday. Results typically reflect tests conducted in the past 36 hours, but could involve people showing symptoms for up to two weeks.

The state health department reported a one-day spike of 45 deaths, more than twice the 21-day average of 21 daily deaths.

DeWine has pleaded with Ohioans to continue diligently with hand washing, social distancing and and mask wearing.

In the Mahoning Valley, two more COVID-19 deaths were reported Tuesday.

Trumbull County reported one new death, bringing its total to 65.

Columbiana County also had one new death on Tuesday, for a count of 60.

Mahoning had no new deaths, but its total stood at 228 deaths as of Tuesday.

The state reported 2,863 deaths.

Reported cases of the virus are surging around the state, although cases closer to home are not as steep.

Locally, Trumbull reported 853 cases on Tuesday, an increase of 13 from the day before.

Columbiana had 1,218 cases, which was one more than Monday.

In Mahoning, 1,741 cases were reported on Tuesday, up from the 1,736 on Monday.

There were 51,789 cases in the state on Tuesday, an increase of 743 since Monday.

People contracting the virus range from less than 1 year to 109, with a median age of 46.

There were 209 hospitalizations in Trumbull, 147 in Columbiana and 356 in Mahoning on Tuesday.

Across the state, 7,839 people were listed as hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 1,994 in intensive care units.

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