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State adds 2,194 COVID-19 cases

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The Ohio Department of Health reported 2,194 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the state total to 1,180,986 since the pandemic began.

Mahoning County added 33 new cases for a total of 23,674 with 1,128 hospitalizations and 617 deaths.

Trumbull County reported 34 new cases. There have been a total of 17,564 cases, 1,304 hospitalizations and 494 deaths.

Columbiana County reported 30 new cases for a total of 9,791. Hospitalizations are up to 531 and deaths sit at 236.

The statewide vaccine rate is now 51.22 percent for people of all ages, increasing to 59.87 percent for those over 12 and 62.15 percent for those 18 and older.

Mahoning County's vaccine rate now sits at 49.60 percent, followed by Trumbull at 47.44 percent and Columbiana at 40.11 percent.

The ODH reported 41 deaths Friday, bringing the total to 20,689. The state is updating the number only after death certificates have been processed, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Gov. Mike DeWine said last week the delta variant is sweeping across the state, taking aim at those who are unvaccinated. He noted many students are returning to school this week.

DeWine reiterated the ODH's recommendation that masks be worn by students who cannot be vaccinated and staff members who are unvaccinated. Last school year, DeWine mandated masks in schools via health order, but his ability to issue those was curtailed by the General Assembly earlier this year.

Instead, he appealed directly to parents about the importance of mask-wearing, as school districts have the ability to set their own mask requirements.

DeWine said mask-wearing is more important now than it was last school year, when the spread of COVID-19 was minimal, because the delta variant is more contagious than earlier strains.

Starting at /week.