The Ohio Department of Health recorded 1,525 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday — the largest number of daily diagnoses since the pandemic began in March.
The previous record-holder had been April 19, with 1,380 new cases. The number dropped to 1,317 on April 20, and no subsequent day would top 1,000 until July 1.
ODH has recorded over 800 new cases every day since that one, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has cautioned Ohioans to remember that each daily diagnosis total is a time-delayed snapshot of the virus’ real spread. People who catch the coronavirus can go without COVID-19 symptoms for up to 14 days; some never develop symptoms at all but remain capable of transmitting the virus to others.
DeWine on Tuesday ordered people in six of Ohio’s hardest-hit counties to go masked in public, including in stores, public transit and outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible.
On Thursday, he expanded the order to include seven more counties and cautioned that three — Butler, Cuyahoga and Hamilton — could soon be upgraded to the state’s highest health emergency level.
