News

A chart shows rate of coronavirus cases in Ohio
A chart shows rate of coronavirus cases in Ohio [ODH]

Athens County Upgraded To Level 2 Public Health Emergency

By:
Posted on:

< < Back to ?p=257979

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — After weeks of being listed as a Level 1 Public Health Emergency, the state determined an increase in the spread of coronavirus warranted Athens County being upgraded to Level 2.

Gov. DeWine released this week’s Ohio Public Health Advisory System map during his press briefing Thursday.

The Ohio Public Health Advisory System map for Sept. 3
The Ohio Public Health Advisory System map for Sept. 3. [ODH]
Athens County had previously been a yellow county since the state downgraded it from orange on August 6. The highest level the county reached was Level 3 on July 16.

A county at a Level 2 Public Health is defined by the state as having increased exposure and spread of coronavirus. It must trigger at least two of the state’s seven indicators.

As of Thursday, Athens County triggered two indicators: new cases increase and non-congregate cases.

A chart shows the indicators Athens County has and has not met
[ODH]
Not many counties surrounding Athens County moved on the Public Health Advisory System. Pike County was downgraded from Level 2 to Level 1.

The Athens City-County Health Department reported five new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 404 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Of those cases, 30 are active and 372 are recovered, according to the health department.