CINCINNATI — After a few months of declining COVID-19 cases across the Tri-State, the virus is once again on the rise.
All counties in the Tri-State have once again reached moderate, high or substantial spread levels, according to the CDC's COVID-19 data tracker.
Demand for COVID-19 vaccines in the region and across the nation has dropped in recent months, particularly as the omicron variant has proved to be less severe than earlier versions of the disease. However, the U.S. is headed into what could be yet another COVID-19 surge, with cases rising in most states after a two-month decline.
According to experts, the coming wave will likely be caused by a mutant called BA.2. It's thought to be 30% more contagious than omicron. Health leaders said the wave will be bigger than it looks because cases are extremely under-reported due to more at-home testing.
Where do the numbers stand right now in the Tri-State?
This is a look at all the counties in the Tri-State. The data is from May 11.
This is a side by side look at where cases were one month ago compared to where they are today:
OHIO
Ohio updates its COVID-19 data every Thursday, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Here's where things stand as of Thursday, May 5:
Total cases: 2,708,071
Total deaths: 38,493
KENTUCKY
Kentucky updates its COVID-19 data every Monday, according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Here's where things stand as of Monday, May 9:
Total cases: 1,333,077
Total Deaths: 15,734
Click HERE to head to Kentucky's dashboard.
INDIANA
Indiana updates its COVID-19 data three times a week, according to the states' COVID-19 dashboard website. Here's where things stand as of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, May 10:
Total Cases: 1,711,268
Total Deaths: 22,684
Click HERE to head to Indiana's dashboard.
It's important to note that despite the uptick, the numbers are nowhere near what we were seeing just a few months ago in December and January.
The National Impact
Today, the Biden Administration announced COVID-19 has killed one million Americans.
"Each an irreplaceable loss," President Biden said in a statement.
"I know the pain of that black hole in your heart. It is unrelenting. But I also know the ones you love are never truly gone. They will always be with you."
President Biden warned that as a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow.
"We must remain vigilant against this pandemic and do everything we can to save as many lives as possible, as we have with more testing, vaccines and treatments than ever before," he said.
The president added that it is critical for Congress to act and work to sustain these resources in the months ahead.
Despite the statement from the White House, numbers from the CDC, World Health Organizationand Johns Hopkins University have not yet reached the one-million mark.
- As of 1:15 p.m. May 11, the CDC reported 995,747 American deaths from COVID-19.
- As of 6:14 p.m. May 11, The World Health Organization reported 990,599 American deaths from COVID-19
- As of 7:20 a.m. May 12, Johns Hopkins University reported 998,997 American deaths from COVID-19
President Joe Biden appealed to world leaders at a COVID-19 summit Thursday to reenergize a lagging international commitment to attacking the virus, the Associated Press reported. He also ordered flags lowered to half-staff.
“This pandemic isn’t over,” Biden said at the second global pandemic summit. He spoke solemnly of the once-unthinkable U.S. death toll.
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The Associated Press and ABC contributed to this article.
