Another 8,374 Ohioans tested positive for COVID-19 as of Saturday, marking the second straight day of declines in new cases, but still above the three-week average, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
On Thursday, 10,251 cases were reported, and on Friday, 9,535.
The number of new cases tends to drop on weekends. The statewide total now is 770,977.
Saturday’s cases were above a three-week average of 7,455 new cases reported per day.
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Positive test rate lower than 7-day average
More than 8.18 million COVID-19 tests have been administered across the state since the pandemic began in March. The positive test rate on Thursday (the latest day testing data was available) was 13.1%, lower than the seven-day average of 14%.
Deaths rose Saturday by 55, which is less than the three-week average of 75 new deaths reported per day. So far, the virus has killed 9,599, according to the state.
An additional 270 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19 by Saturday. That's less than the three-week average of 310 new hospitalizations a day, state data shows.
Admissions to intensive care units increased Saturday by 22, which is less than the three-week average of 32 new ICU admissions a day.
As of Saturday, 4,007 Ohioans remained hospitalized with COVID-19, a slight decline from 4,062 on Friday. Of those who remained hospitalized on Saturday, 987 were in ICUs and 618 on ventilators, according to the state.