COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Director of the Ohio Department of Health says new research shows that the first patients with coronavirus in the state happened in January.
Dr. Amy Acton discussed the situation during Monday's coronavirus briefing with Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant-Governor Jon Husted. Dr. Acton says the cases were reported in five different counties, and research is underway to determine if they were associated with travel.
The cases were found in Miami, Montgomery, Richland, Summit and Warren counties.
Previously, Ohio's first case of coronavirus was reported in February. The latest figures have Ohio with nearly 25,000 cases, with over 4,400 hospitalizations, and 1,357 deaths.
Dr. Acton says with antibody testing ramping up in Ohio, officials will get a much better idea of how long the virus has been spreading in the state.