COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio Department of Health has released the latest number of COVID-19 cases in the state. 

Numbers as of Friday, Jan. 21 follow:

TotalChange
New cases2,480,566+19,697
Hospitalizations104,390+476
ICU admissions12,462+37
Deaths*31,987+742
*–Deaths are updated twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays

 The 21-day case average is above 22,000.

The department reported 5,763 people started the vaccination process, bringing the total to 7,130,638 which is 61% of the state’s population. And 15,178 received booster shots.

The Ohio Hospital Association reported the following numbers related to COVID-19 patients:

Hospitalized patients
with COVID-19
No.		Percent of
total beds		Percent of total
beds available
Total5,58122.9%16.3%
In ICU1,13525.98%16.3%
On ventilator77415.5%60.3%

Ohio schools reported more than 27,000 new coronavirus cases this week, setting a new record one week after cases shattered a previous record. Local doctors are sending a new warning to COVID-19 test-takers, due to data showing the effectiveness of throat swabs. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, state health director, gave an update, Thursday, where he expressed hope that the omicron variant might soon decline but remained concerned over hospitalization levels.