Fifth Auglaize COVID-19 death reported

CELINA - Health officials continue to ask local residents to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 as one new case brought Mercer County's total to 303.

A fifth death was reported in Auglaize County along with one new case, bringing that county's confirmed number of cases to 107.

The latest Mercer County case involves a man from the age of 80-90 who is self-isolating at home, according to a health district news release Tuesday.

District officials also reported seven probable cases, 242 people who have recovered, 123 pending tests, 1,419 negative tests, three hospitalizations, 10 deaths and one probable death from COVID-19. Mercer County has 50 active cases.

While the numbers of active cases and hospitalizations have been relatively stable in recent weeks, district officials urge residents to wash their hands frequently, stay home when sick, practice social distancing and wear a mask while in public, indoor areas.

Health officials noted Mercer County ranks ninth out of Ohio's 88 counties in COVID-19 cases per capita. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mercer County has a rate of 734 cases per 100,000 people.

"This is just another reminder to take the situation seriously," officials said in the release.

They also noted if people are tested for COVID-19 they need to remain in quarantine until they receive their results. If a Mercer County resident tests positive for COVID-19, health district personnel will contact the individual to conduct a contact-tracing investigation.

Celina has the largest number of cases at 137; Coldwater has 59; St. Henry, 48; Fort Recovery, 27; Maria Stein, 12; Rockford, nine; Mendon, six; Chickasaw, three; and Burkettsville, one, according to the health district's online dashboard at arcg.is/1mTqa5.

The dashboard includes a map of cases by town and ZIP code and demographic breakdowns by race, sex, age range and the number of cases by the date when the tests were taken.

The map also includes a breakdown of long-term care and confinement facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff and/or residents. Officials update the online dashboard each weekday by 4 p.m.

An Auglaize County Health Department news release on Tuesday reported the fifth death involved a woman from the age of 50-70. Health commissioner Oliver Fisher has said the health department will no longer include an exact age or more accurate age range when reporting deaths to prevent the deceased from being identified in obituaries. The health department had previously reported deaths with exact ages.

The fourth death, reported on July 2, was a woman from the age of 80-100. The three previous deaths have involved a 64-year-old man, an 82-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man.

"Auglaize County Health Department staff would like to express our deepest sympathies for the family's loss and send our thoughts and prayers to them," Fisher said in the release.

The newest confirmed case in Auglaize County involves a 76-year-old woman who is hospitalized, according to the release.

Department officials also reported 107 confirmed cases, 10 probable cases, 16 hospitalizations and 88 people who have recovered.

As of Tuesday evening, the Ohio Department of Health reported 67,995 confirmed and probable cases in the state, 9,049 hospitalizations and 3,069 confirmed and probable deaths.

COVID-19 cases/deaths:
Ohio cases  67,995
Ohio deaths  3,069
Mercer County cases  303
Mercer County deaths  10
Auglaize County cases  107
Auglaize County deaths  5