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Summit County Coronavirus Alert Level Increases; Mandatory Public Face Mask Starts Friday

Summit County is now one of four counties in Northeast Ohio in red on the state's coronavirus Public Health Advisory System.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Summit County is now one of four counties in Northeast Ohio in red on the state's coronavirus Public Health Advisory System.

Face masks will be required in public throughout Summit County beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. The county was moved up to level red Thursday afternoon on Ohio’s coronavirus risk level map.

Donna Skoda says the rating system is based on seven indicators including the number of cases reported, hospitalizations  and contact tracing.

 

“We received notice that we now have a three-fold increase in our outpatient visits which is another of the indicators.”

 

 

Skoda says the county is not seeing a surge of cases in congregate settings like nursing homes, but she is concerned that could happen when visitation resumes July 20.

There are now 12 counties at level red including Lorain, Trumbull and Cuyahoga.

The Ohio Department of Health is indicating that Cuyahoga is approaching being moved to the top risk level, purple.

The risk level in one county, Huron, decreased. 

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Andrew joined WKSU News in 2014. He oversees the daily operations of the WKSU news department and its reporters and hosts, coordinates daily coverage, and serves as editor. His commitment is to help foster reporting that marks the best of what public radio has to offer: a mix of first-rate journalism with great storytelling. His responsibilities also include long-term strategic planning for news coverage in Northeast Ohio that serves WKSU’s audience via on-air, online, by social media and through emerging technologies. You can also hear Andrew on-air daily as the local host for Here and Now, Fresh Air, and The World.