CELINA- As of September 15, 2021, the Mercer County Health District (MCHD) reports 4,608 confirmed cases, 890 probable cases, 4,311 recovered cases, six hospitalizations, 90 COVID-19 deaths, and 19 probable deaths of COVID-19. In addition, there have been 50 confirmed cases who have passed away due to causes other than COVID-19. Today, there are 154 known active cases of COVID-19 in Mercer County.  Out of the cumulative total of confirmed cases, there has been a total of 42 reinfections of COVID-19. All of the currently hospitalized individuals are unvaccinated.

There have been 30 confirmed and 12 probable cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated Mercer County residents. Of those individuals, four were hospitalized and have since recovered. Two have passed away.

The transmission rate of COVID-19 in Mercer County continues to be high. A high transmission rate is defined as 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people in a 7-day period or a test positivity rate of 10% or higher. Mercer County has seen 361 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and has a test positivity rate of 20.29%.  This data can be found here: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.

The MCHD is reporting 112 new confirmed cases since last week’s report. We continue to see a surge in cases, especially among the younger population. Of the 112 new confirmed cases, 65% of those individuals are 40 years of age and younger.

Due to the continued  increase in COVID-19 cases, there has been a delay in interviews, many of which are conducted by a third-party firm outside of MCHD. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please do not ignore phone calls from the 216 area code. This is likely someone calling to complete a brief interview and offer isolation/quarantine letters for yourself and your close contacts. If you have not received a call and need an isolation or quarantine letter for your employer or school, please contact the MCHD office at 419-586-3251, extension 1454.

Individuals are now able to use an at-home rapid COVID-19 self-test kit. These self-test kits are available for purchase at some pharmacies or retail stores. Last week, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced that individuals can get an at-home rapid COVID-19 test at many local libraries around the state. To find available tests, please visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards/other-resources/testing-ch-centers. Please keep in mind that the demand for testing is very high, so please call ahead to make sure a test is available. If individuals use an at-home test kit, they are instructed to communicate the results to their primary care physician. In addition, the primary care physician must report a positive test result to the local health department. If you do not have a primary care physician, please report your positive test result to the MCHD.  

The MCHD urges Mercer County residents to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our county. To help prevent infection with COVID-19, take the precautions you normally would during cold and flu season:

  • Frequently wash your hands for 20 seconds or more with soapy water. If unavailable, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home while you are sick (except to visit a health care professional) and avoid close contact with others.
  • Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
  • Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals to ensure a healthy immune system.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Avoid crowded indoor places to help reduce the spread of the virus.
  • Wear a mask when in indoor public locations to protect yourself and others.
  • Consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19 if you are eligible.

The MCHD offers the COVID-19 vaccine every Friday at the MCHD office. Please call 419-586-3251 extension 1462 to ask questions or schedule an appointment.

MonthNumber of Confirmed Cases
March (First case on 3/24)5 cases
April19 cases
May190 cases
June56 cases
July239 cases
August295 cases
September 284 cases
October545 cases
November1,116 cases
December635 cases 
January 2021388 cases
February 2021120 cases
March 202152 cases
April 2021113 cases
May 202164 cases
June 202114 cases
July 202134 cases
August 2021246 cases
September – current193 cases