COVID-19 delta variant

The Delta and Omicron variants have shot COVID-19 cases upward starting at the end of December. Now cases are finally trending downward.

The hospital system is overwhelmed with cases of the delta variant of COVID-19, the flu and the new, highly contagious omicron variant.

The governor is holding a news conference Friday morning to discuss hospital staffing with the latest COVID-19 surge.

Northeast Ohio hospitals are bracing for a tidal wave of COVID-19 patients as the omicron variant takes hold, cases surge on the back of the delta variant, and families prepare to gather for holiday celebrations.

The omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization recently designated as a variant of concern after it was discovered to be spreading quickly throughout South Africa, has not yet been detected in Northeast Ohio or anywhere in the U.S. – but it will likely be found here soon, according to medical experts.

The number of COVID-19 cases has been decreasing in recent days.

The number of Ohioans hospitalized with COVID-19 is climbing to levels the state hasn’t seen since the deadly surge over the 2020-2021 winter, and doctors are particularly concerned about a spike in patients under the age of 50.

Since Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther imposed a mask mandate this week, fears are building among statewide eateries that more restrictions could be coming, including shutdowns. The Ohio Restaurant Association is cautiously optimistic that another shutdown will not happen.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are soaring due to the highly contagious delta variant, and the rise in severe cases is stressing the hospital systems, according to health officials.

There are at least 20 kids hospitalized at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus alone right now.