700,000 U.S. COVID deaths: National Cathedral bell tolls for one hour
The National Cathedral tolled its 12-ton funeral bell 700 times over one hour in memory of the 700,000 Americans who have died of COVID.
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Eleven people died from COVID-19 related causes in Tuscarawas County during the seven-day period ending Friday, taking the total county pandemic death toll to 288, according to the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics.
The overall number of new COVID-19 cases rates decreased slightly during the same time frame, according to the Tuscarawas County Health Department. There were 421 new cases, compared to 497 cases during the previous week. Earlier weeks saw new case numbers of 523, 531, 464, 320 and 227.
More: 74 Tuscarawas County students test positive for COVID-19
As of Friday, the department was reporting 1,148 active cases in the county. It counted 29 more hospitalizations among the county’s residents, up from 19 hospitalizations in the previous week.
The county health department reports that there have been 12,021 cases of COVID-19 among the county’s 93,263 residents.
Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital in Dover reported that as of Friday, it was treating 30 inpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
More: Kaleb Grezlik released from hospital after eight days of care for COVID-related illness
The majority of severe COVID-19 cases in Ohio continue to be among those who are not fully vaccinated.
While 59.19% of Ohio residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated, only 45.75% of Tuscarawas County residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from Friday.
More: Fewer new COVID cases reported in week ending Friday than in previous seven days
Anyone 12 and older who would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine may call the county health department at 330-343-5555, extension 174 or 181, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment to receive the Moderna, Pfizer/Comirnaty, or Johnson & Johnson. Only the Pfizer/Comirnaty brand is approved for use in those as young as 12.
First doses, second doses and Pfizer/Comirnaty booster doses are available without an appointment at vaccine clinics scheduled throughout the county at these places and times:
• Newcomerstown Senior Center, 222 Bridge St., Newcomerstown, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday and Nov. 16.
• Bolivar library, 455 Water St. SW, Bolivar, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Nov. 16
• Westchester Senior Center, 6451 state Route 342 SE, Tippecanoe, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Nov. 17.
• Claymont Senior Center, 633 N. Main St., Uhrichsville, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday and Nov. 18.
• McDonald’s, 3384 Davis Road in, Dover, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 and Nov. 9.
Anyone age 12 and older may attend any of the events.
More: Project starts Monday to increase COVID-19 vaccination rate in Tuscarawas County
Free transportation to the events is offered by Access Tusc Transit, Horizons, the Society for Equal Access and the Tuscarawas County Senior Center. Rides to each event can be arranged by calling Access Tusc Transit at 234-801-8007.
The county health department is scheduling appointments for adults 50 and older who would like to receive the Flublok flu vaccine, which studies have shown is more effective for those 50 and older for those who are immunocompromised.
Flublok contains three times more active ingredients than traditional vaccines and produces significantly higher immune responses to the A strains of influenza, especially H3N2, in the Flublok quadrivalent study, according to the county health department.