COLUMBUS, Ohio - Amid new concerns nationally over how best to safely reopen states during the coronavirus crisis, the picture in Ohio continues to come more into view. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, there are 20,072 confirmed cases of the virus in the state, as well as 1,038 deaths. 

 

That number increases to 20,969 with 1,135 deaths when using the expanded CDC definition, which also includes quick tests and those who are showing symptoms and are known contacts of confirmed coronavirus patients, in addition to those results that are confirmed in a lab. 

In Mahoning county, there are now 999 cases of the virus with 92 deaths. That number is an increase of 34 from the previous day, with eight more deaths. 

The increase is well above the average of recent days, but that is likely attributable to more testing and is not necessarily an indication of a faster rate of infection. The number of hospitalizations, 249, has not changed. 

Increasingly, hospitalizations become an important figure to monitor, as they provide a more accurate indication of the severity of the spread of infection as opposed to raw case numbers, which are expected to continue to increase as testing capacity ramps up locally, around the state and nationally. 

Mahoning Countys cases continue to be spread over a wide age range, from 1-103, but with the majority of the deaths and hospitalizations skewing towards those who are 60 or older. 

62 percent of the deaths in the county have been residents of longterm care facilities and 99 percent of them have underlying health conditions. 

Three more deaths in Columbiana County have been linked to the coronavirus pandemic, two of those from long-term care facilities according to local health officials.

Two women from long term care facilities that were 88 and 91 years old, as well as a 77-year-old man, succumbed to the virus.

County health officials do not release the names of the facilities where the residents were being cared for.

State health officials update their list of confirmed coronavirus cases a long-term care facilities each Wednesday.

The deaths are included in Tuesday’s report of 11 additional positive COVID-19 cases in the county.

We have 11 additional positive COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths to report this morning

To date, there have been 292 confirmed coronavirus cases in the County, including 30 deaths.

Seven of those who died were inmates of the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution.

The Bureau of Prisons says 88 inmates and 49 Elkton staff have tested positive the disease.

The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday urged a federal judge to act quickly to protect more than 800 Elkton inmates who could be considered at-risk for COVID-19 due to age and health conditions.

 

In Trumbull county, there are now 356 cases and 35 deaths.