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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
COVID-19 Update: Spring Events, Provider Expansion, New Health Equity Website
February 25, 2021
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted
today provided the following updates on Ohio's response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
SPRING EVENTS
Governor DeWine today announced a loosening of restrictions for
sporting and entertainment venues when safety protocols are followed.
"The vaccines have given us great hope, but until we have enough
Ohioans vaccinated, we must continue masking and social distancing,"
said Governor DeWine. "Easing up on some prevention measures is
intended to serve as a starting point. If the trajectory of cases,
hospitalizations, and deaths continues downward, we hope to be able to
relax more of these measures. If it gets worse, we may have to tighten
up."
Sporting and entertainment events will be able to reopen with 25
percent maximum indoor capacity and 30 percent maximum outdoor capacity
provided they follow established precautions such as mandatory mask
wearing for employees and customers, spectator pathways that allow for
social distancing, and seating in groups in six-foot intervals of no
more than six people from the same household.
General admission (lawns, standing room, infields) will be permitted if
masks are worn and if six-foot distancing can be marked and maintained.
New guidance for proms, banquets, wedding receptions, fairs, festivals, and parades is forthcoming.
PROVIDER EXPANSION
Next week, Ohio will receive 310,000 first doses of the Moderna and
Pfizer vaccines. With this increase in doses, Ohio will add additional
new vaccine provider sites including some Meijer and Walmart locations
and more independent pharmacies.
Providers that are currently receiving vaccines - including RiteAid,
Kroger, CVS, Walgreens, local health departments, and hospitals - can
anticipate larger shipments.
Based on information provided by the federal government, once the
Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available, Ohio will receive an
additional 91,000 doses during the first week.
SCHOOL UPDATE
As of this week, all doses requested by schools through the state’s
vaccination program have been allocated to local providers. Some school
staff already received their second dose, and other second dose clinics
are underway.
Ohio began making vaccines available to K-12 teachers this month with
the goal of having all of Ohio’s K-12 students back to full or partial
in-person learning by March 1. Right now, most students in Ohio
districts have access to at least some in-person instruction.
Governor DeWine expressed gratitude to school leaders who have
prioritized a return to in-person instruction. Ohio will continue to
work with the handful of schools across the state that are struggling
to meet the March 1 goal.
NURSING HOME CASES/HOSPITALIZATIONS
Ohio continues to see downward COVID-19 hospitalization trends,
particularly in the 80+ age group which was among the first groups to
become eligible for the vaccine. In December, those 80+ made up more
than 25 percent of Ohio's COVID hospitalizations. This month, that
number has dropped to about 18 percent.
Ohio is also seeing a decline in COVID cases among nursing home
residents. In the past week, Ohio had 369 new nursing home cases,
compared to 2,832 new cases in one week in December.
As part of the new COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program, Ohio will
continue vaccinating new nursing home residents, new staff hires, and
those who have recently decided to take the vaccine.
Due to the decrease in cases reported in long-term care facilities,
Ohio's Veterans Homes in Sandusky and Georgetown have resumed accepting
new residents, and certain restrictions on visitors at state behavioral
health hospitals will be lifted beginning on March 1.
HEALTH EQUITY WEBSITE
Governor DeWine announced the launch of a new health equity website on
coronavirus.ohio.gov that highlights Ohio's efforts to achieve equity
in its pandemic response and provides resources to help communities,
agencies, and organizations across the state join in those efforts.
The new Communications Resources Hub will offer various print, digital,
audio, and video resources to help Ohioans provide education about the
vaccine to any number of communities. In addition to general resources,
the website offers materials created for specific groups, including
minorities and Ohioans who speak English as a second language.
OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY SYSTEM
For the first time in several weeks, Ohio's Public Health Advisory
System has shown change in the amount of spread in some Ohio counties.
Holmes, Mercer, Shelby, and Williams counties decreased to a Level 2
(Orange) Public Health Emergency.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted today reminded Ohioans about the benefits of
TechCred, which helps Ohioans learn new in-demand skills while also
helping employers build a stronger workforce with the skills needed in
a technology-infused economy.
There are more than 1,000 pre-approved credentials offered through the
program. These technology-focused credentials take only a year or less
to complete and prepare current and future employees for the technology
jobs Ohio employers need.
Businesses can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for each credential earned by
an employee and up to $30,000 total each application period.
To learn more, visit: TechCred.Ohio.Gov.
CURRENT CASE DATA
In total, there are 962,404 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19
reported in Ohio and 17,125 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A
total of 49,951 people have been hospitalized throughout the pandemic,
including 7,104 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can
be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
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