CINCINNATI – Hamilton County officials announced Wednesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases in the county is declining.
“Levels still remain extremely high and continue to impact our hospital systems and our intensive care units,” said Greg Kesterman, Hamilton County Health Commissioner. “But this is a very promising signal that things are heading in the right direction, are starting to go.”
On average, there were about 524 COVID-19 new daily cases in the past seven days, which is a decrease from about 716 new daily cases two weeks ago, officials said. However, there are still 11,400 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Kesterman said he was nervous that the county would see a big increase in COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving, but said, “We’ve done a great job … We’ve done what it took to get COVID in each of our control lives. “
Although the number of new cases is decreasing, the number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 remains at about 750 patients per day. This is the same number of hospital admissions as on December 16. The number of patients in intensive care units also remains the same at about 175 patients.
Kesterman also said COVID-19 vaccines have made their way into the county and are being distributed to emergency responders.
The province received 1,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, members of the health committee began giving the doses to fire stations in the province.
“The EMTs and paramedics, because they are the first responders who have put themselves so graciously at risk to our community during the pandemic, will be the first to receive that vaccine,” Kesterman said. “These doses are really the beginning of the end of the Hamilton County pandemic.”