Vaccinated woman, 88, dies from COVID

CELINA - An 88-year-old, fully-vaccinated Celina woman is the latest to die from COVID-19 in Mercer County, according to county health officials, raising the cumulative death toll from the virus to 89.

Eighty-five new cases of COVID-19 and 17 probable cases also were confirmed in Mercer County since the county health district's last report a week ago.

There are 131 known active cases of COVID-19 in Mercer County, according to a health district news release. Also, six people, all of them unvaccinated, are hospitalized for COVID-19, health district administrator Jason Menchhofer said Wednesday.

Local health officials have said the highly contagious delta variant is circulating in the community.

"There have been 25 confirmed and 11 probable cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated individuals," the release states. "Of those individuals, four were hospitalized and have since recovered. One (the 88-year-old Celina woman) has passed away."

As of Tuesday, in Mercer County there have been 4,496 confirmed cases, 860 probable cases, 4,222 people who are presumed to have recovered, 89 COVID-19 deaths and 19 probable COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the release.

The number of COVID-19 cases swelled to 246 in August and 81 cases already have been reported this month, according to the release. Thirty-four cases were reported in July, and only 14 cases were reported in June.

Mercer County's rate of transmission continues to be high, the release reads. The county has a rate of 245 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and a test positivity rate of 14.3%, up from 11.68% last week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a high transmission rate as 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people in a seven-day period or a test positivity rate of 10% or higher.

Since the COVID-19 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, according to the release. Health officials said 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.

"The MCD urges Mercer County residents to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our county," the release states. "Maintaining good hygiene practices, staying home when sick and avoiding crowded indoor places can all help reduce the spread of the virus."

The district offers the COVID-19 vaccine every Friday at its office. Call 419-586-3251, ext. 1462, to schedule an appointment or ask questions.

As of Wednesday night, the Ohio Department of Health reported a cumulative 1,268,841 confirmed and probable cases, 67,439 hospitalizations and 21,020 Ohio resident deaths since the pandemic began.

COVID-19 cases/deaths:
Ohio cases 1,268,841
Ohio deaths 21,020
Mercer County cases 4,496
Mercer County deaths 89
Auglaize County cases 4,022
Auglaize County deaths 65