COVID-19 cases rise in state and Fairfield County this summer

LANCASTER − While COVID-19 doesn't get the headlines it once did, the virus is still around.

Case numbers in Ohio and Fairfield County have risen this summer.

The Ohio Department of Health reported 4,575 cases for the week of July 18 to July 24, a roughly 17% increase from the previous week, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

In Fairfield County, there were 156 reported cases as of July 29. There were 100 cases in June and 67 in May.

Fairfield County Health Commissioner Joe Ebel said the rise is due to summer parties and the like.

"We're seeing the numbers go up," he said. "It seems like the same has happened in the past. Like around the Fourth of July everybody's getting together for events and the numbers start to jump up. Pretty much everyone is seeing numbers spike just because there are so many events and get-togethers."

Ebel said he didn't know if the current COVID strains are weaker than past ones. But he said herd immunity and the number of those vaccinated and those who have been exposed to the virus has led to less severe outcomes than in the past.

Ebel said to wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when coughing and stay home if showing COVID symptoms. He said those who test positive should wear a mask. Ebel said none of these steps are mandatory like they were during the apex of the pandemic.

The county health department has free COVID-19 test kits available. The department is located at 1550 Sheridan Drive Suite 100.

"We just ordered some more because we just had a run on them as the numbers crept back up this summer with people coming in and picking up the kits," Ebel said.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter/X: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: COVID-19 cases rise in state and Fairfield County this summer