New outbreaks reported

NORWALK — Fresh outbreaks of COVID-19 connected to churches and a baby shower were reported in Huron County Friday. In addition, Ohio had a record daily high of 1,525 new cases Friday, although the 26 deaths were below the more than 40 deaths a day reported in Ohio during much of May. And testing of hundreds of Put-in-Bay business employees began Friday and was expected to continue Saturday. The outbreaks reported in Huron County came one day after the county's risk status was downgraded from red to orange, meaning county residents are no longer required to wear masks. But Gov. Mike DeWine said Huron County had barely qualified for the upgrade in risk status, and Friday's report suggested the county still is struggling with risk. Huron County Public Health reported Friday that 12 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been tied to outbreaks at two churches, Collins United Methodist Church and West Hartland United Methodist. In addition, 16 confirmed cases have been tied to a baby shower held in Huron County. The health department said to protect the identities of the people involved, it could only share the baby shower was held in ZIP code 44890, which is in the Willard area. Huron County Public Health earlier had reported outbreaks at three farms in the Willard area: Weirs Farm (33 cases), Holthouse Farms (10 cases) and Buurma Farms Inc. (three cases.) In addition, eight cases had been reported earlier at The Willows in Willard, a nursing home. All of those earlier cases were tied to the Willard area, but on Friday, the health department said there has been a shift to more locations since July 1. "Within the last 9 days, Huron County Public Health has reported a significant increase in confirmed cases within Norwalk, Collins, Bellevue, and Willard," the health department said in its detailed weekly report. Huron County had 237 confirmed cases as of Friday and two deaths. The deaths are lower than other nearby counties. Also Friday, testing began for about 1,000 employees of Put-in-Bay businesses. The testing at Put-in-Bay's fire department was expected to continue Saturday, with test results expected soon from the state health department. The Ottawa County Health Department arranged for the tests after outbreaks were reported on South Bass Island. Two Ohio National Guard teams of 22 people were sent to South Bass Island to take samples for the tests, said Stephanie Beougher, spokeswoman for the Ohio National Guard. The tests weren't open for everyone but were by appointment with businesses on the island, Beougher said. The guard was assisted Friday by the Ottawa County Health Department and Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton. The county's health commissioner, Jerry Bingham, was in Put-in-Bay Friday. Bingham said close to 500 people already had been tested by about 2:30 p.m. and said the testing generally has gone smoothly. He said people have been patient despite the hot weather. "The cooperation has been phenomenal," Bingham said. Erie County had 267 COVID-19 cases Friday, up 21 cases since Thursday, and stood at 22 deaths, the Erie County Health Department said in an update Friday afternoon. Four patients were being treated for COVID-19 at Firelands Regional Medical Center. On Friday, Ottawa County had 166 total cases and 24 deaths, while Sandusky County had 157 cases and 15 deaths. Statewide statistics suggested cases are continuing to rise in Ohio. Ohio had 1,525 new cases Friday, a daily record, compared to a 21-day average of 911, and 26 deaths, compared to a 21-day average of 17. There were 131 new hospitalizations, compared to a 21-day average of 73. The transmission rate in Ohio Friday was 1.16, according to rt.live. As of Friday, Ohio had 62,856 cases and 3,032 deaths. The U.S. had 3,156,234 cases and 133,746 cases as of Friday, while the world had 12,376,147 cases and 556,863 deaths. COVID-19 cases were going up in most U.S. states Friday. The COVID 19 Tracking Project reported especially large surges in California, Texas and Florida, with cases generally surging more in the southern U.S. The COVID 19 tracking project says daily deaths in the U.S. have fallen sharply from more than 2,000 a day in mid-April to about 500 a day in recent days, but also reported signs that U.S. daily deaths have begun to rise again. Deaths also have fallen in Ohio, which had more than 40 deaths a day for much of May, according to Johns Hopkins.