Mercer records 75 new cases

CELINA - Seventy-five new cases of COVID-19, 11 probable cases and two new hospitalizations have been confirmed in Mercer County since the county health district's last report a week ago.

Health officials have said the highly contagious delta variant is circulating in the area.

The Mercer County Health District in a Wednesday news release also reported 109 known active cases of COVID-19 in the county. Health officials also reported 24 confirmed and eight probable cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated individuals. Of those people, two are hospitalized and three were hospitalized and have since recovered, according to the release.

The health district continues to see an increase of cases, especially among minors. In August there was a total of 30 confirmed cases in the 0-17 year age range, the highest monthly total among that age group since December 2020, the health district reported.

Health officials continue to urge Mercer County residents to help slow the local spread of COVID-19 by maintaining good hygiene, staying home when sick and avoiding crowded indoor places.

Transmission in the county continues to be high. A high transmission rate is defined as 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people during a seven-day period or a test positivity rate of 10% or higher. Mercer county has seen 206 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and has a test positivity rate of 11.68%. This data can be found at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.

When the transmission rate is at substantial or high levels, people are encouraged to wear a mask when in indoor public locations to protect themselves and others. Masks are most important when around people with weakened immune systems or increased risk of severe disease, and when distance cannot be maintained between people.

While N95 masks offer protection to the wearer, surgical and cloth masks are most effective in controlling the release of droplets from those who may carry the virus by stopping the droplets before they separate into smaller particles capable of traveling through the air.

Due to the increase in cases, there has been a delay in interviews, many of which are conducted by a third-party firm outside the local health district. If residents have tested positive for COVID-19, they are being asked not to ignore phone calls from the 216 area code. According to the release, calls from this number are likely someone trying to complete a brief interview and offer isolation or quarantine letters.

Last week, the health district began offering the third dose of mRNA vaccine to immunocompromised individuals at least 28 days after receiving the second shot in the two-dose series of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. The health district encourages interested people to consult with their physician to determine whether they are eligible for this third dose. When receiving a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Mercer County Health District, people will be required to complete a form documenting that they are eligible for the shot. No one will be required to disclose the specific health condition that makes them eligible.

The health district is making tentative plans to conduct multiple drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinics this fall if the FDA and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices approve the recently announced federal vaccine booster plan. Additional information will be shared when it is available.

The Mercer County Health District offers the COVID-19 vaccine every Friday at the MCHD office. Call 419-586-3251 extension 1462 with questions or to schedule an appointment.

As of Wednesday evening, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported over 1.2 million confirmed and probable cases, 66,013 hospitalizations and 20,866 Ohio resident deaths.

COVID-19 cases/deaths:
Ohio cases 1,228,002
Ohio deaths 20,866
Mercer County cases 4,411
Mercer County deaths 88
Auglaize County cases 3,932
Auglaize County deaths 65