Northeast Ohio Health Experts See COVID Cases Rising at Alarming Rate as Flu Rises

CLEVELAND – With COVID cases increasing at an alarming rate, the Erie County Board of Health issued an urgent reminder to the community on Thursday.

“Now we are starting to see the flu and influenza come onto the scene. We have several people in our COVID wards who are fighting this virus, ”said Health Commissioner Pete Schade.

In fact, the county is approaching 300 COVID-19 related deaths.

“It’s a horrible statistic to know that this is a vaccine-preventable virus,” Schade said.

Summit County is also experiencing a similar increase, according to Donna Skoda of Summit County Public Health.

“We have also seen many children affected. We have seen children under the age of five, primary and secondary school children, ”said Skoda.

Both commissioners warn that the numbers will worsen as the holidays approach if people don’t get vaccinated and take precautions.

“We are entering the house, entering the Christmas season. We have a lot of indoor events, some are packed with people, some have people yelling and cheering, ”Schade said.

The warning comes the same day the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban vaccine mandates from private companies and public entities in the state.

The bill goes to the Senate.

Meanwhile, Summit County Public Health said it will host two test-drive events on November 23 and 30 to help mitigate any spread.