CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio’s coronavirus case rate per 100,000 residents dropped for the first time in a month, though 53 counties remain on red alert or above for concern of spread, the Ohio Department of Health said in its weekly update on Thursday.
The new rate of 185.8 cases per 100,000 over the last two weeks is a drop from the rate of 200 per 100,000 reported a week ago.
But even with the improvement, it is far from Gov. Mike DeWine’s stated goal of reaching 50 before he will lift health orders. DeWine said earlier this week that he may replace that target with another measure, such as vaccination rates, in deciding when he will lift his orders that include mask mandates and limits on crowds in public places.