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On Wednesday, Governor DeWine provided an update
on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other state
initiatives.
Governor DeWine announced that Ohio is expected to receive
more than 238,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the
first week of January. Governor DeWine encouraged those
administering the vaccine to do so with urgency.
"Although we'll never know whose lives have been saved, we do
know that these vaccines are saving lives," said Governor DeWine.
"We all have a moral responsibility to get the vaccine out to those
who choose to receive it as quickly as we possibly can."
Governor DeWine also encouraged citizens who wish to be
vaccinated to act with urgency when offered the vaccine. Because the
vaccine is currently scarce, Governor DeWine warned that those who
decline to receive a vaccine at the first opportunity may not
immediately receive another chance.
SCHOOL QUARANTINE GUIDANCE CHANGE
Governor DeWine announced that Ohio is changing its guidance
regarding quarantines following an in-classroom exposure in K-12
schools. Moving forward, students and teachers exposed to a COVID-positive
person in school are no longer required to quarantine as long as the
exposure occurred in a classroom setting and all students/teachers
were wearing masks and following other appropriate protocols.
The change follows an evaluation of virus spread in Ohio schools
conducted by researchers with the Ohio Schools COVID-19 Evaluation
Team. Preliminary results of the evaluation found no discernable
difference in the risk of contracting the coronavirus between those
in close contact with a COVID-positive person in the classroom and
those who were farther away.
"This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio's classrooms are a safe
place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made
to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working," said Governor
DeWine.
Schools should continue to require quarantines for exposed students
in situations where masking and distancing protocols were not
followed. The updated quarantine guidance does not apply to
after-school activities, including sports.
CURFEW EXTENSION
Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health
extended Ohio's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until January 23, 2021. The
extension is necessary until Ohio can determine if it will see a
post-holiday case surge that impacts hospitals.
The curfew does not apply to those going to and from work, those
who have an emergency, or those who need medical care. The curfew is
not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to the
pharmacy. Picking up carry-out or a drive-thru meal and ordering for
delivery is permitted, but serving food and drink within an
establishment must cease at 10:00 p.m.
BAR & RESTAURANT GRANTS STILL AVAILABLE
More than 5,100 eligible on-premises liquor permit holders have not
yet applied for state assistance through Ohio’s Bar & Restaurant
Grant Program as of December 30. Of the $38.7 million allotted to
support liquor permit holders, more than $12 million remains
unclaimed.
Each active on-premises liquor permit (as of 10.23.20) is eligible
for $2,500 per location. The funding is not competitive, and the
money does not have to be repaid.
Although the program is referred to as the Bar & Restaurant
Assistance Fund, more than just bars and restaurants have eligible
liquor permits. Movie theaters, bowling alleys, sports and concert
venues, and even some hair salons are eligible for this funding.
Permit holders who have not yet claimed their funds should visit
businesshelp.ohio.gov to apply.
This week, Governor DeWine signed the following bills into law.
-House Bill 24, sponsored by Representatives Stephen D. Hambley and
Darrell Kick, revises humane society law.
-Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senator Kirk Schuring, authorizes insurance
premiums tax credits for certain projects.
-Senate Bill 310, sponsored by Senator Matt Dolan, provides federal
COVID-19 funding to local subdivisions.
-House Bill 312, sponsored by Representative Jena Powell, permits certain
intrastate equity crowdfunding. The legislation increased
appropriations in the amount of $105.2 million in Fiscal Year 2021
for the Facilities Establishment Fund Group to allow
three projects to proceed to Controlling Board: Columbus Crew SC
($25 million), Sherwin Williams Company ($35 million), and Origin
Malt ($10 million).
-House Bill 405, sponsored by Representative Jon Cross, creates the
adoption linked deposit program.
-Senate Bill 27, sponsored by former Senator Joe Uecker, regards
disposition of fetal remains from surgical abortion.
Senate Bill 310 included language authorizing the Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to pay kinship caregivers. Across
the state, more than 2,600 kinship caregivers are providing safe and
loving homes to nearly 4,000 children in the custody of a children
services agency, making kinship caregivers an important and
essential part of our child welfare system.
In response, Governor DeWine on Wednesday signed Executive Order
2020-43D, requiring ODJFS to develop a system to pay kinship
caregivers no later than June 1, 2021. He also ordered ODJFS to pay
caregivers retroactively from the date the bill was signed. This
executive order ensures that Ohio’s kinship caregivers receive the
financial supports they need to help their loved ones grow and
thrive, in a timely and efficient way.
On Thursday, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio Department of
Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed a health order encouraging
people to stay at home during specified hours unless they are
working or engaged in an essential activity. This extends provisions
in previous orders and applies until January 23, 2021, at 12:01 p.m.
As of Thursday, there have been 700,380 confirmed and probable cases of
COVID-19 in Ohio and 8,962 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A
total of 38,334 people have been hospitalized, including 5,870
admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by
visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Department of Health will not report numbers on Jan. 1 in
observance of the holiday. Daily number reporting will resume on
Jan. 2 and will reflect totals from Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.
For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit
coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH. |
