Coronavirus in Ohio Friday update: Fewer than 1,000 new cases reported

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

Numbers as of Friday, March 4 follow:

	Total	Change
New cases	2,658,276	+918
Hospitalizations	112,748	+65
ICU admissions	13,254	+4
Deaths*	37,018	+196

The 21-day case average is below 1,500.

The department reported 2,064 people started the vaccination process, bringing the total to 7,232,00 which is 61.87% of the state’s population. And 3,626 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
Total	900	3.8%	18.8%
In ICU	177	4.39%	23.69%
On ventilator	120	2.43%	72.6%

Ohio’s K-12 schools saw their fewest COVID-19 cases of the school year, reporting only 770 new infections Thursday to the Ohio Department of Health. The Columbus City School district is lifting its mask mandate starting March 8, the district announced Thursday. Columbus Public Health is recommending that the cities of Columbus and Worthington end their mask requirements on Monday, March 7. Franklin County stayed put but other central Ohio counties improved this week on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s map of COVID-19 mask recommendations.