COVID-19 cases increased by 1,855 on Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 1,039,455 since the pandemic began over a year ago, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

As of Sunday, 54,078 people were hospitalized, which was an increase of 31 statewide.

The Department of Health is updating the total number of deaths only after death certificates have been processed, usually twice per week. The latest total is 18,827, which is an increase of 86.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer of the Ohio Department of Health, expressed concern at the increase in cases and hospitalizations in recent days, as more contagious COVID-19 variants continue to infiltrate the state.

“It’s clear that Ohio and the nation are enduring yet another wave of COVID-19, but … this time it’s being driven by new variants of the original virus,” Vanderhoff said.

Locally, Mahoning County had 20,652 total COVID-19 cases as of Sunday, and 581 deaths, according to the ODH.

Trumbull County had 15,412 total COVID-19 cases and 458 deaths.

Columbiana County had 8,482 total COVID-19 cases and 225 deaths.

COVID-19 by the numbers

The number of cases, changes in cases and deaths in counties in the region and statewide as of Sunday:

County Cases Change since Change since Deaths*

yesterday last week

Trumbull 15,412 +35 +286 458

Mahoning 20,652 +31 +281 581

Columbiana 8,482 +4 +90 225

Ohio 1,039,455 +1,855 +15,444 18,827

*Death totals are as of Friday. SOURCE: Ohio Department of Health