Ohio COVID-19 deaths compared to other causes of death
As of May 9, 2020, more than 73,000 people in the U.S., including 1,331 Ohioans, have died with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. These numbers continue to increase daily.
Cases have been detected in all 88 Ohio counties. Nearly half of reported COVID-19 cases in Ohio are among adults ages 30-59 (49.2%). The majority of hospital admissions (62.2%) and deaths (92%) are among adults ages 60 and older.
To put this data in context, this brief compares deaths of Ohioans with COVID-19 to leading causes of death in 2018 (the most recent year for which final mortality data is available).
Measuring the full impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis with a global impact that is unprecedented in recent history.
The full scope of impact will likely not be known for some time. In addition to the escalating number of Ohioans who have died with the virus, COVID-19 has severely impacted the state’s economy. As of April 25, 2020, 1.07 million Ohioans have filed initial claims for unemployment. At the same time, policies put in place to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 have raised concerns of increases in child abuse, intimate partner violence and disruptions to K-12 education.
The stark economic and social costs of COVID-19 will likely lead to other health consequences, such as higher rates of suicide, violence and drug overdose deaths. The long-term impact of the virus on premature death and its disparate impact on older adults, people who live in congregate settings and communities of color, will take time to fully evaluate. As policymakers make difficult decisions to address the fallout of COVID-19, it is important to acknowledge that this is a rapidly evolving crisis with new knowledge emerging daily. Addressing the pandemic’s many economic, social and health consequences requires accurate data, action based on the best available research evidence and strong collaboration between state and local-level partners and across sectors.
