CINCINNATI – Hamilton County officials announced Wednesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases in the county is declining.
“Levels remain extremely high and still have an impact on our hospital systems and our intensive care units,” said Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman. “But that’s a promising sign that things are heading, starting to go, in the right direction.”
On average, there are about 524 new daily cases of COVID-19 over the past seven days, down from 716 new daily cases two weeks ago, according to officials. There are still 11,400 active cases of COVID-19 in the county.
Kesterman said he was nervous the county would see a huge increase in the number of COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving, but said, “We did an amazing job … We did what was necessary to control COVID. in each of our lives. “
Although there is a decline in new cases, the number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 remains the same at about 750 patients per day. It is the same number of hospitalizations as on December 16th. The number of patients in intensive care units also remains the same in about 175 patients.
Kesterman also said COVID-19 vaccines have been targeted in the county and are being distributed to first aiders.
The county received 1,800 doses of the Modern vaccine on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning, members of the health commission began giving the doses to the county fire stations.
“EMTs and paramedics, because they are the first to respond so graciously to putting themselves at risk for our community throughout the pandemic, will be the first to get this vaccine,” Kesterman said. “These doses are really the beginning of the end of the pandemic in Hamilton County.”