Tuesday, January 5th, 2021
96 new local COVID cases reported
By Leslie Gartrell
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Health Department officials reported 57 new cases since their last update on Dec. 31, raising the county's cumulative confirmed total to 2,866.
In Mercer County, health district officials reported 39 new cases since their last update on Dec. 31, raising the county's total to 3,408 since the pandemic began.
Officials in an Auglaize County Health Department news release also reported 850 probable cases, 149 total hospitalizations, 45 total deaths and 3,087 people who are presumed to have recovered.
The breakdown of total cases by community is Wapakoneta, 1,321; St. Marys, 1,090; Minster, 407; New Bremen, 366; Cridersville, 193; Waynesfield, 146; New Knoxville, 99; Spencerville, 23; the Lima area, 23; Uniopolis, 11; Buckland, 10; St. Johns, six; New Hampshire, six; the Botkins area, six; the Lakeview area, four; the Mendon area, two; the Fort Loramie area, two; and the Harrod area, one.
Mercer County Health District officials also reported 18 pending test results, 13 current hospitalizations as well as 612 probable cases, 3,126 people who have recovered, 65 deaths and 18 probable deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the 3,408 confirmed cases, 197 are active.
Health officials in a news release on Monday noted Gov. Mike DeWine announced Phase 1B of the state's vaccination plan.
The newest phase will include people 65 years old and older; those living with severe congenital, developmental or early onset medical disorders; and adults working in schools. This includes teachers, bus drivers, custodians and other adults who work in school buildings.
The second phase of vaccinations is anticipated to start around mid-January. When a date has been determined for the beginning of Phase 1B statewide, the health district will share this information via social media and news media. Officials will also share dates of Phase 1B vaccination clinics as they are scheduled.
Officials asked people not to call the health district to request the COVID-19 vaccine unless that person qualifies for Phase 1A and has not been contacted yet.
As of Monday evening, the Ohio Department of Health reported 727,423 confirmed and probable cases in the state, 39,112 hospitalizations and 9,143 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.
COVID-19 cases/deaths:
39 new cases in Mercer. 57 in Auglaize since Dec. 31.
Ohio cases 727,423
Ohio deaths 9,143
Mercer cases 3,408
Mercer deaths 65
Auglaize cases 2,866
Auglaize deaths 45
