Local health department ends regular COVID-19 news releases

SANDUSKY — As COVID-19 cases fall and the disease moves toward becoming an endemic, one such as flu rather than a pandemic, the Erie County Health Department has taken note. The health department has announced it has dropped its weekly press releases chronicling cases, deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Erie County. The department promised that if the virus spikes again, it will inform the public. "The Erie County Health Department will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and update the Erie County COVID-19 Dashboard at CovidErieOhio.com to ensure the community stays informed. In the event of a spike in cases, a press release will be issued at that time," the department said in its announcement. The department's last weekly press release, issued on Feb. 22, recorded 82 new cases over a week's time versus 147 new cases the previous week. The department reported 1,436 new cases on Jan. 11. Last week's report noted two new deaths, bringing total deaths up to 309. It reported 10 COVID-19-positive patients being treated at Firelands versus, for example, 59 on Jan 11. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new tool for monitoring community levels of COVID-19 by county. Search for "community level tool CDC" on Google to pull up the tool or go to cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html to access the tool. The new tool rates each county in the U.S. as being at low, medium or high risk. Residents of low-risk counties should stay up to date with vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. Residents in medium-risk counties should stay up to date with vaccinations, get tested if they have symptoms and consider wearing masks and taking other precautions if they are at high risk for the virus. Residents in high-risk counties, in addition to taking the precautions for medium- and low-risk counties, should wear a mask indoors when in public spaces. On Monday, the CDC tool said residents of Erie County were at low risk, meaning they should stay up to date on vaccinations and get tested if they have symptoms of the virus. Huron and Sandusky counties also was rated at being at low risk Monday. Ottawa County was rated at medium risk. The CDC rates counties as being at low, medium or high risk from the virus based on three metrics: new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the percentage of local hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and new cases per 100,000 people. As of Feb. 24, the CDC said residents of 70% of U.S. counties no longer have to wear masks. The latest state statistics also show a decline in the virus. On Monday, Ohio's official website for tracking the virus reported 729 new cases, compared to a 21-day average of 1,963 cases. There were 56 new hospitalizations compared to a 21-day average of 152. Hospitalizations for the virus in Ohio, while still significant, have continued to decline. State officials reported that on Monday, 1,103 people were hospitalized statewide for the virus. It's important to note that severe illness and death remains a threat to Americans, particularly people who aren't vaccinated or who have other serious health conditions. On Feb. 25, the seven-day moving average for COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. was 1,732, according to the CDC. The CDC says the U.S. has reported 944,517 COVID-19 deaths so far.