‘Unrelenting’ Covid-19 surge launches Portage County into purple

Portage County entered Covid-19 risk level four, the highest possible, after triggering six of the state health department’s seven risk level indicators, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday. The only threshold our county did not cross was for hospital admissions, which did not increase for five consecutive days within the past three weeks.

“The most alarming thing between the red and the purple coloration is our hospital usage,” Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio said during a press briefing Thursday afternoon. “Not only are we seeing community spread, but now we’re seeing community spread that is affecting our vulnerable populations and individuals that need medical care because of contracting Covid-19. And placing them in the hospital system along with other patients that need medical attention. That’s what’s creating a drain and a draw on the hospital care in our region and throughout the state.”