Hancock County health officials updated the county’s coronavirus numbers on Friday.

The Friday numbers from Hancock Public Health  show that there have been a total of 951 cases since the pandemic started and that 115 cases are active.

Total deaths now stand at 19, an increase of one from Wednesday.

Hancock County health officials say 283 tests are pending, and say that number is that high because of the good turnout at the testing event at the Marion Township House (pictured) on State Route 568 on Wednesday.

For the third day in a row, the number of new single-day COVID-19 cases in Ohio has surpassed 2,000.

Health officials say 2,148 cases were reported statewide on Friday

That brings the statewide totals since the pandemic began to nearly 178,000 cases and 5,054 deaths.

Both Hancock and Putnam Counties are considered a “high incidence” county.

Hancock County is still at level 2, or orange, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

Putnam County is still at level 3, or the red level.

The Findlay Police Department says it’s once again receiving calls from people about a certain phone scam.

The police department says the scammer claims to be with the Social Security Administration and tells the potential victim that there is a problem with their account and they need to confirm their information.

The scammer then asks for bank account information or some form of payment to resolve the situation.

The police department reminds people that you should never give out personal information and agencies like the Social Security Administration will not contact you by phone requesting such information.

You can click here for more details on related scams.

Hancock County Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi is concerned about the increase in COVID cases in the county.

Baroudi was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks on Thursday morning.

Hancock County stayed at level 2, or the orange level, on the state’s new COVID 19 alert map that was released on Thursday.

At this rate though, Baroudi says we might get bumped up to the red level.

That timing would be bad for events like the City of Findlay’s Trick or Treat, which the city says will be canceled if we reach the red level.

Baroudi is urging people to continue wearing a mask, washing their hands and practicing social distancing.

Karim was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks. Listen to that full interview here. 

The Blanchard Street reconstruction project is starting to come together.

The City of Findlay Engineering Department says the project is more than halfway finished and should be totally completed in November.

The project is reconfiguring Blanchard Street into one lane in either direction, with a dedicated center turn lane and a bike lane on either side of the street, from Sixth Street to Center Street.

The project also includes a multi-use path along a section of Lincoln Street.

Blanchard Street is now open in its new configuration from Sixth Street to Sandusky Street. (pictured)

Work is still underway from Sandusky Street to Tiffin Avenue where crews are working on curbs and ramps.

And Lincoln Street is still closed as it gets resurfaced and the multi-use path is built.

The city says the new configuration will improve safety at 17 intersections along the Blanchard Street corridor and reduce rear-end and T-bone crashes.

The Ohio State University is set to host seven future NCAA Championship tournaments starting in 2023, including men’s basketball.

The NCAA announced that OSU had been granted final approval by the competition oversight and championship committees.

In 2023, Ohio State will host men’s basketball games in the first and second rounds, then in 2024 will hold the men’s gymnastics and women’s fencing championships.

In 2025 OSU will be the site of the men’s volleyball championship and the women’s golf regional before finishing in 2026 by hosting the men’s golf regional and the co-ed rifle championships.

As COVID cases rise across the state, Hancock and Putnam County stayed at their previous levels on the latest COVID-19 alert map that was released on Thursday.

Hancock County remained at level 2, or the orange level, while Putnam County is still at level 3, or the red level.

Hancock and Putnam both are still labeled as a “high incidence” county.

The number of “red” counties has increased to 29, and Lucas County has returned to the red level.

The red level is defined as a county with very high exposure and spread of COVID-19.

A day after setting a record for new cases that record was broken again, with 2,178 cases reported statewide on Thursday.

Governor DeWine says local health department officials say schools are doing a good job but they are seeing a rise in cases from social gatherings.

The governor says health officials are seeing fewer people wearing a mask when they’re out.

“These are not times to be complacent or comfortable. It is the time to be vigilant to protect yourself, your family, your friends and your neighbors,” DeWine said.

The City of Findlay Water Distribution Department will be performing some fire hydrant flushing on Friday.

It will take place in the area of North Blanchard Street east to Bright Road and from the Blanchard River north to Tiffin Avenue.

Anyone with a question can contact the Water Distribution Department at 419-424-7192.

Hydrant flushing is part of the general maintenance of a city’s water distribution system and helps ensure that adequate water flow is available.

Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development hosted a business roundtable discussion with Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, of Lima, on Wednesday.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn said COVID response was one of the topics and how the legislature can help support businesses through the pandemic, especially bars and restaurants.

She says allowing bars and restaurants to serve alcohol past 10 p.m. would be a big help.

Speaker Cupp said the roundtable discussion was very informative.

He mentioned that there are still some federal dollars with the CARES Act that need to be allocated that could help some local small businesses as the pandemic continues.

(In the picture above are Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, State Rep. Jon Cross, Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp and Tim Mayle, Director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development)

Two candidates competing for a Hancock County Commissioner’s seat participated in a forum on Wednesday.

Republican William Bateson and Democrat Melissa Kritzell shared their thoughts on a variety of issues affecting the county, such as the pandemic’s effect on county finances, flooding, lowering addiction and crime rates and jail expansion.

The forum was aired on WFIN and hosted by the University of Findlay. You can view the forum below.

There are three Hancock County Commissioners.

Commissioners Mark Gazaraek and Brian Robertson are not running for re-election.

Bateson and Kritzell are running for one seat and Mike Pepple, a Republican, is running uncontested for the other commissioner’s seat.

Tim Bechtol is the other county commissioner.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will be in Cleveland on Friday.

A release from the Biden-Harris campaign made the announcement.

There were no additional immediate details on her visit.

President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden were in Cleveland last month for a presidential debate.

Ivanka Trump is also expected in Ohio on Friday.

President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Campaign made the announcement on Wednesday about the event planned in Cincinnati.

The president’s daughter says she’ll be sharing the campaign’s agenda with Ohioans on Friday.

It wasn’t immediately clear where or when the event will be.