COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio broke its daily record of COVID-19 cases Tuesday, surpassing 4,000 cases for the first time.
The new record came as Ohioans went to the polls to cast their ballot Tuesday and breaks the state's previous daily record of 3,845 newly reported cases, which was set Friday. The new cases bring the statewide total to 226,138 cases, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Tuesday's cases far exceeded the three-week average of 2,596 new cases reported per day.
Gov. Mike DeWine did not hold his usual Tuesday media briefing on Election Day, but in a Tweet, urged Ohioans to "slow this spread by social distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding large gatherings."
The average rate Ohioans tested positive for the virus over the previous seven days rose to 8.4% as of Sunday, the most recent day for which data is available, according to the state.
Deaths rose Tuesday by 33, which is nearly double the three-week average of 17 new deaths reported per day. So far, the virus has killed 5,373, according to the state.
An additional 213 Ohioans were hospitalized with COVID-19 by Tuesday. That's far above the three-week average of 145 new hospitalizations a day, state data shows. Admissions to intensive care units increased Tuesday by 25, which is slightly higher than the three-week average of 23 new ICU admissions a day.
