The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center announced it will be postponing non-emergent, elective surgeries that require an overnight stay beginning January 3, 2021 citing an increase in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

State health officials said the ongoing COVID pandemic in Ohio continues to worsen and could do so even more as winter sets in.

A high number of positive COVID-19 results within the Ohio State men's basketball program has led to the cancellation of their game with Kentucky Saturday in the CBS Sports Classic.

Games were postponed in the NHL and NBA as stars were sidelined by COVID exposure, while 94 NFL players tested positive since Monday. Now, leagues are moving to strengthen safety measures.

Nine states have active mask mandates, even as the new variant is quickly moving in on the U.S. Despite their political unpopularity, research shows masks still work and could save lives.

A day after placing eight players on the COVID list, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Baker Mayfield have also tested positive, along with five other players and a coach. The NFL has not discussed moving Saturday's game, but significant changes to protocols are reportedly being discussed with the players union

The U.S. also surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases, the most in the world. Two experts who raised early warnings discuss how the losses continue to deepen, despite the arrival of vaccines a year ago.

DeWine said he's opposed to both that and the federal rule requiring businesses to ensure their employees are vaccinated or are tested regularly.

The research finds that the medicine, called Paxlovid, was effective in preventing hospitalization and death when taken by people with mild to moderate illness within a few days of symptoms.

Columbus City Schools on Monday started the ambitious effort to eventually vaccinate thousands of students between the age of 5 and 11-years old against COVID-19.