COVID-19: Statewide curfew moves to 11 p.m. as Ohio’s hospitalizations decline

COLUMBUS — A statewide curfew has been eased by an hour as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline around Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the curfew has been pushed back to 11 p.m., effective tonight (Jan. 28), through at least Feb. 11.

The governor said the change is being made because Ohio hospitalizations for COVID-19 have remained below 3,500 for seven consecutive days.

Ohio has been under a statewide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. since Nov. 19, a move that has dramatically impacted the state’s bar and restaurant industry.

DeWine said if hospitalizations drop below 3,000 for seven consecutive days, he plans to move to a midnight curfew for at least two weeks.

If the number falls below 2,500 for seven consecutive days, “We believe that we will be able to drop the curfew,” he said.

“Keep in mind that hospitalizations are a lagging indicator — this means that if these numbers go back up, we would likely need to act quickly to reinstitute the appropriate safety measures,” DeWine said.

Hospitalizations tied to COVID-19 around the and the region continue to improve.

According to the Ohio Hospital Association website, there were 2,829 residents statewide hospitalized Thursday due to COVID-19. That is a decline of 14 percent in the last week, 30 percent in the last three weeks and 44 percent in the last two months.

In the region that includes Ashland County hospitalizations are down 19 percent in the last seven days, 34 percent in the last three weeks and 46 percent in the last two months.

The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Ashland County continues to also improve, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Ashland County recorded 280 new cases in the last two weeks, or 523.52 per 100,000 residents. That’s the lowest two-week total recorded since early December. 

The county reported 276 cases in two weeks on Dec. 3. Then, a rise in cases began, topping out at 473 new cases in a two-week period on Dec. 17. 

Last week, Ashland County recorded 360 new cases in the last two weeks, or 673.10 per 100,000 residents. 

Ashland County again met two of the seven indicators in the state’s Public Health Advisory System, updated each Thursday afternoon. The county remained “red,” or level three, due to “high incidence” of the virus around the county.

The two indicators “triggered” were the same as last week: 

New cases per capita — Flagged if greater than 50 cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks. Ashland County was at 523.52 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Proportion of cases not in a congregate setting — Flagged if proportion of cases that are not in a congregate setting goes over 50 percent in at least one of the last three weeks. Ashland County has hit at least 50 percent in each of the last three weeks at 97, 100 and 50 percent.