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Ohio’s COVID summer surge ramps up thanks largely to KP variant

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Ohio’s COVID summer surge ramps up thanks largely to KP variant


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Summer is winding down, but Ohio’s COVID-19 cases aren’t.

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The state’s weekly average jumped from around 5,000 at the beginning of August to over 7,000 this past week, driven primarily by the KP.3.1.1 variant, the current dominant variant in the United States.

Other culprits for the continuing surge in cases include the LB.1 variant, one of the members of the Omicron family strain, though there’s no evidence that these variants are causing more severe levels of disease, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

More: Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for COVID again as Ohio sees uptick in cases

What are Ohio’s current COVID-19 numbers?

The state health department reported 8,352 cases during the week of Aug. 15 through Aug. 21, a 13% increase from the 7,347 cases reported the week before.

May’s case count totaled a little over 3,800, but cases nearly doubled in June, with 6,472 reported. Cases then nearly tripled in July at well over 18,000.

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August’s total amounts to over 21,000 cases thus far.

COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths also increased slightly, though case totals sit at small fractions of the peak pandemic numbers. By comparison, there were over 109,000 cases reported in August 2021.

However, the state health department said that COVID remains “a very real health threat,” and “any increase in cases reaffirms the importance of staying up to date with vaccination, which remains the best way to prevent severe illness from COVID.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months or older receive the most recent COVID-19 shot, which the Food and Drug Administration just approved on Aug. 22. Vaccinations with said shot could start as early as September.

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Samantha Hendrickson is The Dispatch’s medical business and health care reporter. She can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com.



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Columbus schools closed Monday, Dec. 15 after snowfall, cold

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Columbus schools closed Monday, Dec. 15 after snowfall, cold


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Columbus City Schools is closing Monday, Dec. 15, after a weekend winter storm dumped more than 5.4 inches of snow on the region and cold temperatures descended.

Following the weekend snowfall, a cold weather advisory was issued for the area, to remain in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15.

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It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.

Late on Dec. 14, CCS posted it would close Dec. 15 “due to inclement weather.” See more school closings at NBC 4 or check back with the Dispatch throughout the morning.

This list will be updated as additional information becomes available. School districts are encouraged to send an email with any delays or closures to newsroom@dispatch.com.



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Single-digit temps, below-zero wind chills hit central Ohio after snow

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Single-digit temps, below-zero wind chills hit central Ohio after snow


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Now comes the cold.

After nearly 5½ inches of snow fell Dec. 13 in some parts of central Ohio, the National Weather Service says bitterly cold temperatures moving into the region will mean highs in just the single digits.

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A cold weather advisory is in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15. It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.

Temperatures to the west and south are even colder: 1 degree in Springfield, minus-1 in Dayton and minus-3 in Indianapolis. Those temperatures are not expected in the Columbus area, though. The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures by evening and highs in the low 20s Dec. 15.

The record cold expected for Dec. 14 — until now, the coldest high temperature in Columbus for this date was 16 degrees in 1917 — follows a day of record snow. The weather service recorded 5.4 inches of snowfall on Dec. 13 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, topping the prior Dec. 13 record, which was 3.6 inches in 1945.

Level 2 snow emergencies, which means roads are hazardous and people should drive only if they think it’s necessary, remained in effect in Fairfield and Licking counties.

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Level 1 snow emergencies are in effect in Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Union and Pickaway counties.

Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com.



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Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia

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Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia


CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.

The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.

It took so much to get to this moment.

The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.

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