CDC's COVID-19 map shows risk expands to more counties in Greater Cincinnati

The number of counties deemed to have a high risk of COVID-19 in the Cincinnati region grew again Thursday, as cases and hospitalizations have risen throughout July. 

Pendleton County in northern Kentucky and Dearborn and Ohio counties in southeast Indiana were upgraded to "high" COVID community levels by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, triggering an automatic mask recommendation for residents while indoors regardless of vaccination status. 

Other northern Kentucky counties – Boone, Kenton, Gallatin, and Grant – remained at high risk, as did Hamilton, Brown Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties also still have high levels in Ohio, according to the CDC. 

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Altogether, 12 of the Cincinnati region's 16 counties are at the high or red level. The other four are at the medium risk or yellow level; none are in the low or green level.

An upgrade to red triggers these recommendations from the CDC:

• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings).
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease: Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection; Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed; Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing); Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing); Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies. 
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease: consider self-testing to detect infection before contact; consider wearing a mask when indoors with them.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

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The CDC determines COVID-19 community levels by looking at the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases per population in an area.

Hospitalizations have increased steadily over the last month, according to data from the Health Collaborative, the coordinating group for the region's 40 hospitals. The group said the predominant variant locally is the BA.5 omicron subvariant, which is highly contagious but isn't as severe as some of the previous COVID-19 variants.

In accordance with CDC guidance, local governments and health agencies are recommending masks, but none in the region have taken steps toward a mandate. The city of Cincinnati is recommending its employees mask while indoors, but a mandate similar to one issued in January hasn't been put in place. Other companies and groups such as Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati Parks Board and Miami University have begun implementing mask enforcement again.  

Friday morning, the search term "CDC COVID Map" was trending in Ohio, as more counties in the state were upgraded to high community levels on Thursday. 

Nationwide, nearly half of the nation's counties were at the high-risk level, the CDC data shows.

In Greater Cincinnati, 216 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and 33 are being treated in intensive care units. That compared with a thousand COVID-19 patients in local hospitals in January. The latest Health Collaborative data shows that 97% of the region's 2,500 medical surgical beds are full, while 91% of its 513 ICU beds are being used.