COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio Department of Health has released the latest number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
Numbers as of Thursday, Jan. 6 follow:
| Total | Change | |
| New cases | 2,132,266 | +19,442 |
| Hospitalizations | 98,730 | +453 |
| ICU admissions | 11,956 | +43 |
| Deaths* | 29,674 | n/a |
The 21-day case average is above 14,900.
The department reported 9,738 people started the vaccination process, bringing the total to 7,032,160, which is 60.16% of the state’s population. And 31,977 received booster shots.
The Ohio Hospital Association reported the following numbers related to COVID-19 patients:
| Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 | No. | Percent of total beds | Percent of total beds available |
| Total | 6,536 | 25.9% | 15.7% |
| In ICU | 1,313 | 28.98% | 14.17% |
| On ventilator | 877 | 17.87% | 56.85% |
Ohio’s nursing homes said they’re facing a staffing shortage that is getting worse every day. The official number of reported COVID-19 cases could be significantly underestimated, according to health leaders. The disparity comes from an unknown number of unreported at-home rapid test results. Influential government advisers are strongly urging that teens as young as 12 get COVID-19 boosters as soon as they’re eligible, a key move as the U.S. battles the omicron surge and schools struggle with how to restart classes amid the spike.
