Signs A Winter Rise Of COVID-19 Has Already Begun In Northeast Ohio

As temperatures begin to drop, many people wonder if there will be another rise in COVID-19 this winter.

“That’s a great question and I think the answer is yes,” said Dr. Amy Edwards of University Hospitals.

Edwards said there are signs that a winter surge in COVID-19 has already started to unfold in Ohio.

“Here in Northeast Ohio, we are in the middle. We are not the most vaccinated state, but we are not the lowest, either, ”Edwards said.

The Ohio Department of Health reported Thursday that the state averaged 411 cases per 100,000 residents.

The week before it was 354.

“I don’t think it comes close to the surges we’ve seen in the past. With that being said, we are seeing a very clear increase in influenza, which is something we didn’t have to deal with last winter, ”Edwards said.

COVID panels in local schools showed cases on the rise in districts.

Edwards said that as more schools withdraw their mask mandate due to children’s vaccinations, the winter surge will get worse.

“What we are really expecting is a co-increase of influenza and COVID,” Edwards said.

Health officials said another factor that will add fuel to the winter surge is the fact that people are much less cautious than they were last winter.