Tuesday, March 9th, 2021

Vaccination phases to include more people

By Leslie Gartrell

WAPAKONETA - Phases 1D and 2B of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan will include people with type-2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease and gradually open vaccinations based on age, starting with people age 50 and older.

Phase 2B opens the door for Ohioans age 50 and older, roughly 1.2 million people, to get vaccinated, according to a news release from Gov. Mike DeWine.

Phase 2B is based on age due to the increased risk of more severe reactions and outcomes of COVID-19 with age, officials say.

Ohio has a centralized vaccine scheduling website at https://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. The website will serve as a singular location for Ohioans to confirm they are eligible to be vaccinated, identify nearby providers and schedule their vaccine appointments, according to the release.

Only one new confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in Auglaize County over the weekend, raising the county's cumulative number of cases to 3,406.

Auglaize County Health Department officials in a social media post also reported a cumulative 1,116 probable cases, 173 hospitalizations, 61 deaths and 4,383 people who are presumed to have recovered.

The Mercer County Health District releases COVID-19 updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

As of Monday evening, the Ohio Department of Health reported a cumulative 979,725 confirmed and probable cases, 50,965 hospitalizations and 17,502 Ohio resident deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

COVID-19 cases/deaths:

Ohio cases 979,725
Ohio deaths 17,502
Mercer County cases 3,890
Mercer County deaths 81
Auglaize County cases 3,406
Auglaize County deaths 61
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