The Perfect Enemy | Ashtabula, Medina, Lorain counties turn red for high COVID-19 spread on CDC map; masks advised

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The COVID-19 picture in Northeast Ohio worsened last week, with three counties previously designated yellow flipping to red, for high COVID-19 spread.

Ashtabula, Medina and Lorain counties were designated red on the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map.

People in red counties with high transmission are advised by the CDC to wear masks indoors. Counties are considered to have high transmission levels when community coronavirus circulation could overwhelm local hospitals.

Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Portage and Summit counties were classified as yellow, for moderate COVID-19 spread.

People who live in yellow-designated counties, and are at risk for severe COVID-19, should ask their healthcare provider whether they should wear masks or take other precautions, according to the CDC.

The CDC map was updated late Friday.

Across Ohio, eight counties were classified red, 24 were designated yellow and 56 were designated green, for low COVID-19 spread.

Last week, the state-wide tally was two red-designated counties, 13 yellow-designated counties and 73 green.

Counties are classified as low (green), medium (yellow) or high (red) under the CDC’s system for estimating the risk of COVID-19 infection.

The CDC color-coded designations were introduced on Feb. 25. In early March, all of Ohio’s counties were green or yellow; none were red. In late August, a majority of Ohio’s counties were red.

Nov. 25 county designations

Ashtabula County: Red (high transmission)

Cuyahoga County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Geauga County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Lake County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Lorain County: Red (high transmission)

Medina County: Red (high transmission)

Portage County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Summit County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Nov. 17 county designations

Ashtabula County: Yellow (medium transmission)

Cuyahoga County: Yellow (medium transmission)