Athens remains a level three county on Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System as it reached 4,414 COVID-19 cases Sunday. Of those cases, 532 are currently active.
The Athens City-County Health Department reported 19 new COVID-19 related deaths the week of Feb. 7. All of the deaths were those older than 50, with 15 age 80 or older. The most recent death occurred Saturday, involving an individual in the 80+ age range.
Ohio’s overnight curfew was lifted Thursday following weeks of decreased COVID-19 hospitalizations, allowing businesses to maintain later hours of operation. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine cautioned that safety protocols still need to be observed and the overnight curfew could potentially go back into effect if hospitalizations rise.
Starting Monday, Ohians who were born with or have early childhood conditions that are carried into adulthood become eligible to receive the vaccine. So far, 2,979 Athens residents have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination shot, according to the Athens City-County Health Department. Of those residents, 947 have received both doses.
Ohio now has a vaccine website, which tracks vaccine availability in an effort to streamline vaccination information. Though Ohioans still have to schedule appointments through the individual vaccine provider, the website allows a user to search by location to determine local vaccination sites.
As Ohio University continues its coronavirus testing program, there is an average 1.8% seven day positivity rate as of Feb. 9. Isolation housing is at 24.79% capacity as of Feb. 11, while quarantine housing stands at 8.3% capacity.
