CINCINNATI — Hamilton County officials announced Wednesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases in the county is on the decline.
"The levels still remain extremely high and are having an impact still on our hospital systems and our intensive care units," Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman said. "But this is a promising signal that things are heading, starting to head, in the right direction."
On average, there are about 524 COVID-19 new daily cases over the last seven days which is down from about 716 new daily cases two weeks ago, according to officials. There are still 11,400 active cases of COVID-19 in the county though.
Kesterman said he was nervous the county would see a large rise in the number of COVID-19 cases after Thanksgiving, but he said, "We did an amazing job... We did what was necessary to control COVID in each of our lives."
Even though there is a decline in new cases, the number of patients in hospitals with COVID-19 remains the same at about 750 patients per day. This is the same number of hospitalizations as on Dec. 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 to the county and are being distributed to first responders.
The county received 1,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, members of the health commission started giving the doses to firehouses in the county.
"The EMTs and paramedics, because they are the first responders that have been so graciously putting themselves at risk for our community throughout the pandemic, will be the first to get that vaccine," Kesterman said. "These doses are truly the beginning of the end of the pandemic in Hamilton County."
