ASHLAND — Ashland County remained at “yellow” or level one Thursday along with nearby Crawford and Wayne Counties, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday afternoon in updating the Public Health Advisory System.
Richland County remained the only “red” county in north central Ohio, while nearby Knox County transitioned to “orange,” or level two, joining Holmes County.
A total of 23 of the state’s 88 counties, or 26 percent, are now designated “red,” or level three, up from 19 last week.
The public health advisory system is based on seven “indicators” that reflect the spread of the virus. Level three is reached when a county triggers 4-5 of the above indicators.
There are no “purple,” or level four counties in the state.
A statewide mandate to wear masks in public begins Thursday at 6 p.m., an order DeWine announced Wednesday. Prior to that announcement, only residents in “red” counties were ordered to wear masks in public.
This includes when in any indoor location that is not a residence; outdoors when unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household; waiting for, riding, driving or operating public transportation, a taxi, a private car service or ride sharing vehicle.
According to the ODH, Ashland County has reported a total of 107 cases of COVID-19 and four deaths. The most recent report from the Ashland County Health Department included 34 active cases, 61 recovered individuals and four deaths. The local health department has committed to releasing weekly updates, the last of which was Friday, July 17.
Nearby Richland County has had 78 total cases in the past 14 days, representing 19 percent of the county’s total cases since the pandemic began in March, the ODH said. Richland County triggered the same four indicators this week that it did last week: new cases per capita; proportion of cases not found in congregate situations; sustained increase in emergency room visits and sustained increase in outpatient visits.
Other Ohio counties upgraded to level three this week are Clark, Defiance, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Lawrence, Maron and Medina.
Four counties were downgraded to orange from red — Butler, Lorain, Summit and Wood.
Ashland Source reporter Tracy Leturgey contributed to this report.
