MANSFIELD — Two COVID-19 deaths, a 79-year-old man and a 69-year-old man, were reported Monday by Richland Public Health, raising the death toll to 11 in the county since the pandemic began in March.
The deaths were the second and third local COVID-19 deaths reported in the last five days. It’s the first time RPH has had to announce two deaths in one day.
The 79-year-old man, who died Sunday, contracted the virus while not living in a congregate setting, according to public health educator Reed Richmond.
The man had no significant pre-existing medical conditions, according to Richmond. He tested positive on July 5.
The 69-year-old man, who died Monday morning, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 8 while living in a congregate setting and did have underlying health conditions.
“The staff at Richland Public Health expresses its sympathies to families and friends of the latest Richland County pandemic deaths,” Richmond said.
Six of the county’s 11 deaths have been linked to nursing home or long-term residential care facilities.
One of the remaining deaths involved a Richland County man who contracted the virus while working at the Marion Correctional Institution.
On Friday, Richland Public Health released a “heat map” showing 475 probable and confirmed cases in the county.
Other Richland County deaths were reported July 23, July 15, July 14, June 24, June 22, June 2, May 20, April 17 and April 8.
On the Ohio Department of Health website on Sunday afternoon, Richland County had 480 positive tests and 69 total hospitalizations since the pandemic began in March with 357 presumed recoveries.
According to the ODH website, Richland County has reported 11 positive tests in the past seven days, with seven of those coming on July 20. The ODH website also shows four hospitalizations in the past week.
