Auglaize county has gone up two levels on Ohio’s advisory system in just one week. They now sit at level red with over 80 cases per capita reported. Some of the indicators for the red level include an increase in ER visits for COVID patients, a sustained increase in new cases, and the cases per capita nearly doubling. Oliver Fisher, the health commissioner in Auglaize County says jumping up two levels came as a shock.

The Auglaize County Health Department says they have only been receiving about 100 doses each week in recent shipments. The three other providers in the county have had around the same as well. Because of this, next week’s vaccine from the health department will go entirely to those receiving their second dose, and none to new recipients.

The Auglaize County Health Department has teamed up with Grand Lake Health System, Mercy Health - St. Rita's, and Kroger Pharmacy to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine quicker. The health department's clinics are booked for the next two weeks, however the other three still have spots. Only residents 80 years and older are eligible at this time.

Auglaize County reported at the beginning of last month they had around 700 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Now, they are seeing nearly 1,500 cases. Because of the influx, the health department is using everyone necessary for the COVID response, however, it has been difficult keeping up. The county's health commissioner asks the public to be patient if they are awaiting test results and to isolate until then.

Auglaize has seen a spike in new daily cases with having upward of 30 new cases in one day last week. The health commissioner says that they haven't been able to trace outbreaks to specific events, but contact tracing has been difficult. They also found that people have been experiencing "restriction fatigue", meaning they're tired of having to abide by COVID-19 guidelines.

The Auglaize County Health Department announced in a news release  Thursday that they will be moving to a new home. Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said they have been housed in their South Wagner Avenue location since 1991. They now have solidified plans to move into the Grand View Plaza at 813 Defiance St., on August 1.