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More COVID-19 cases were reported in Ohio in January than in all of February to September of last year combined.
The 564,310 cases reported in January also shattered the previous record for most cases in a month during the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March 2020.
The previous record was set in December 2021 with 325,878 reported cases. Prior to that, the record was 279,317 cases reported in December 2020.
The cases last month were more than the 518,180 cases reported for all of February to September 2021 -- an eight-month period.
In January, seven days exceeded 20,000 daily cases. Before last month, only two days during the entire pandemic -- Dec. 29 and 31 of last year -- had more than 20,000 daily cases reported.
Also during the first 22 days of last month there wasn't a single day with reported cases below 15,000. The Ohio Department of Health reported only one day since with more than 15,000 COVID-19 cases. That was last Wednesday with 20,752 cases and was a correction as the ODH couldn't provide an accurate count a day prior, reporting 4,163 cases on Jan. 25 because it received incorrect information from an unidentified long-term care facility causing a backlog in processing data.
Reported daily COVID-19 cases were down to 4,160 Monday. It was the fewest cases reported in a day since 3,797 on Nov. 21, 2021.
For much of January, the daily case average over the prior 21 days exceeded 20,000. It was down to a 21-day average of 17,768 Monday. But that is still a higher average than at any other time during the pandemic outside of last month.
Also, more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Ohio last month than any other month during the pandemic.
The ODH reported 3,665 COVID-19 deaths last month.
The previous record occurred in December 2021 with 2,819. Before that, the record was in December 2020 with 2,553 reported COVID-19 deaths.