968,874 cases in Ohio; 405,126 in Kentucky; 662,750 in Indiana

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WE HAVE GOOD NEWS TODAY. I THINK A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT PARTICULARLY GOOD RESTART OFF BY SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OHIO. 1803 THE STATE LEGISLATURE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHILLICOTHE. SO, THIS IS OUR 218TH BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OHIO. NEXT ITEM. THIS IS MARCH 1ST. AND WE SAID THAT ON MARCH 1ST. WE WANTED TO HAVE SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION EITHER IN SESSION COMPLETELY DURING THE WEEK OR AT LEAST PART. DURING THE WEEK AND I’M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE’VE MADE SOME REAL REAL GREAT PROGRESS IN REGARD TO THIS. WE TOLD EVERY SCHOOL THAT WE WOULD VACCINATE YOUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL. IF THE SCHOOL WOULD AGREE TO GO BACK INTO SESSION BY MARCH 1 WE’VE NOW VACCINATED ABOUT 200,000 SCHOOL PERSONNEL K THROUGH 12. IT WAS DONE IN FOUR FOUR WEEK PERIOD OF TIME. AND I THANK ALL OUR PARTNERS WHO HELPED US GET THIS DONE ALL THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN. AS WELL, SO THAT HAS BEEN THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY JANUARY 50% OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE NOT IN PERSON THEY WENT TO SCHOOLS THAT WERE NOT. OFFERING IN-PERSON LEARNING AT ALL 50% TODAY THAT NUMBER IS LESS THAN 10% OF THE SCHOOL POPULATION AND IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE SIX HUNDRED AND NINE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OHIO. AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT BACK IN SESSION. OF THOSE EIGHT. SEVEN WILL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. COME BACK INTO SESSION. SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. WE’RE VERY VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT. WE WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS. WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR STUDENTS ALL SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND IT’S A VERY GOOD THING VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS. I’M GOING TO LET THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT THIS OR ASK HIM IF HE WOULD TALK ABOUT IT, BUT SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT OHIO RANKED NUMBER ONE. NUMBER ONE IS GOVERNOR’S CUP 2020 STATE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS ATTRACTION RANKING LIEUTENANT. GOVERNOR. YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. YEAH GOVERNOR. IT’S IT’S GREAT NEWS, YOU KNOW WITH 2020. WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT WOULD BE IN OUR STATE AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT WE STAY AGGRESSIVE. WE STAY AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR PARTNER JOBS, OHIO AND AND REALLY TRIED TO FOCUS ON TRUCK CONTINUING TO DO DEALS TRYING TO GET THINGS MOVING FORWARD FOCUSING ON THE FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS AND IN YOU KNOW, WHAT STATE DID YOU WANT TO BE AND WE WE KEPT SAYING LOOK OHIO IS VERY COMPETITIVE AS BEING A GREAT PRO BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT. ALSO A GREAT PRO WORKER ENVIRONMENT AND WE WERE DEVELOPING TALENT AND CONTINUING TO TO CREATE A STATE WITH A VERY DIVERSE ECONOMY. AND WHAT SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE DID IS THEY THEY DO THIS ASSESSMENT AND IT’S BASED ON NEW BUSINESS PROJECTS WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPACT INCLUDING HEADQUARTERS MANUFACTURING R&D OPERATIONS, LOGISTICS SITES AND OTHERS AND AND THEY RANKED OHIO NUMBER ONE IN PER CAPITA. DEALS DONE. THEY EVEN PUT TWO GOVERNMENT. THEY HAD A PICTURE OF YOU DRIVING THE CAR THAT THEY HAD SHOWING THAT WE WERE LEADING THE COUNTRY AND IT WAS IT’S GREAT NEWS. NOW. WE KNOW THAT WE’VE HAD A LOT OF BIG THINGS THAT WE’VE DONE WITH INNOVATION DISTRICTS AND AND RETENTION OF HEADQUARTERS LIKE SHERWOOD WILLIAMS AND CLEVELAND, BUT I FOUND THIS ALSO INTERESTING THAT THAT AS FAR AS OUR OUR REGIONS TOLEDO TIED FOR ONE FOR TOTAL PROJECTS IN AREAS WITH POPULATIONS BETWEEN 200,000 AND A MILLION. THESE ARE YOU KNOW METRO AREAS ADDITIONALLY DATE AND KETTERING RANKED NUMBER FIVE IN AKRON TIDE FOR NUMBER 10, SO IT WASN’T JUST IN IN THE BIG AREAS OF THE STATE IT WAS IN OUR IN OUR MEDIUM SIZED CITIES AND IT WAS IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT WE GOT DEALS DONE AND WE’RE ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER ONE THE NUMBER ONE RANKING AND THE GOVERNOR’S CUP, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST BUT IN OHIO, BUT THIS WAS WELCOME NEWS COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN IN 2020 AND IT’S NICE TO SEE THAT WHEN YOU MEASURED IT WITH WHERE BUSINESSES WERE INVESTING OHIO WAS NUMBER ONE. SO CONGRATULATIONS GOVERNOR AND AND GOOD NEWS FOR OHIO AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE BECAUSE THAT SHOULD MEAN WITH THESE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT COME IN 2021 THE JOBS. EVENTUALLY FOLLOW WHAT IS GREAT NEWS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND WE’RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT AS WELL. IT IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE OF STATE OF, OHIO. MORE GOOD NEWS. I TALKED ABOUT BEING ON OFFENSE AGAINST THIS VIRUS AND WHAT PUTS US ON OFFENSE REALLY IS HAVING THE VACCINE. WE’RE MORE VACCINE COMING IN TO THE STATE OF OHIO TODAY TOMORROW WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IS EVERYONE HAS HEARD THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS NOW STARTING TO SHIP AND WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. OHIO WILL GET 96,100 DOSES 96,100 DOSES IN THE FIRST WEEK. SO WE’RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DOSES THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THIS WEEK IN OHIO AGAIN FOR THE NEXT SPREAD OVER THREE. FOUR DAYS. THAT NUMBER IS 448,448,390 TO BE EXACT DOSES COMING INTO THE STATE OF OHIO. THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST DOSES MORE DOSES THAN WE RECEIVED IN ANY OTHER WEEK. WE’RE VERY EXCIT. ABOUT THIS THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON WE ARE SENDING THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE. OVER 200 INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES AROUND THE STATE. MOST OF THESE PHARMACIES HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY VACCINE. SO IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO AN INDEPENDENT PHARMACY THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STOP IN THERE OR CALL THEM AND MAKE MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT TO GET THAT VACCINE FROM YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT PHARMACY. WE’RE ALL SO SENDING THESE JOHNSON VACCINES VACCINES TO OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. TO OUR HOSPITALS AS WELL AS TO SOME OF OUR CHAIN PHARMACIES, SO IT’S GOING OUT AS I SAID 96,100 DOSES. IT’S GOING OUT AROUND THE STATE OF, OHIO. ERIC LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MAP THIS MAP REPRESENTS. WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE? TODAY AND WE HAVE EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET THIS VACCINE. WE ARE OVER 1200 LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF OHIO NOW. AS YOU CAN SEE THEY’RE NOT ONLY IN EVERY COUNTY BUT JUST A JUST EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO MORE VACCINE AND A LOT MORE A LOT MORE LOCATIONS. ONE TAKE A MOMENT. TO TALK ABOUT THIS MAP, YOU KNOW WHEN WE FIRST STARTED MAKING PLANS FOR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION. ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET IT AND TO BE CLOSE AT HOME CLOSE TO YOUR HOME. WE PLACED AT THAT TIME VACCINE ALL 88 COUNTIES THAT OHIOANS WOULD NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL A LONG WAY TO GET A SHOT. JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE STARTED WE HAD ABOUT 750 PROVIDERS THIS WEEK. WE’VE INCREASED THAT NUMBER AS I SAID TO MORE THAN 1200 PROVIDERS THAT NUMBER INCLUDES LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HOSPITALS FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES AS WELL AS SHANE PHARMACIES. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE THE LIST YOU CAN FIND THAT ON CORONAVIRUS.OHIO.GOV. THAT’S CORONAVIRUS DOT OHIO.GOV. YOU CAN SEARCH BY COUNTY. YOU COUNTY. YOU CAN SEARCH BY ZIP CODE. IT WILL. SHOW YOU WHERE YOU CAN GO ONLINE WITH THE WEBSITE OF PARTICULARLY PHARMACY THE PHONE NUMBER. AS WELL AS AS WELL AS THE LOCATION AND I SAID PHARMACY. I MEANT ACTUALLY PROVIDERS ANY OF THE PROVIDERS CAN SHOW YOU THAT. WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS THAT THERE STILL IS A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR THE VACCINE, BUT WE’RE SEEING. SOME SPACE IN THERE. WE’RE SEEING SOME OPENINGS AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON FRIDAY, AND I SAID NOW’S THE TIME IF YOU’VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A VACCINE NOW IS THE TIME IF YOU QUALIFY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT VACCINE. WE LOOKED THIS MORNING JUST AT A FEW RANDOMLY AT A FEW AT A FEW PLACES WE CHECKED. GIANT EAGLE WHICH AT KROGER WALMART DISCOUNT DRUG MART AND A FEW OTHER PLACES AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IN NORWOOD. THERE WERE 34 PROVIDER LOCATIONS WITH VACCINE. WITHIN 10 MILES ZIP CODE 453 THREE SEVEN, MOMMY WE CHECKED TODAY 33 PROVIDER LOCATIONS WHO HAD VACCINE WITHIN 10 MILES. AND IF YOU LOOK AT TOMORROW FOR MERCY TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY VACCINATION SITE THIS BIG VACCINATION SITE IN MAUMEE. 2,000 VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TOMORROW 2000 ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS CAN SCHEDULE THROUGH LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH.COM SLASH COVID-19. THAT’S AGAIN LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH ONE WORD LUCAS COUNTY HEALTH.COM SLASH COVID VACCINE 2000 THERE IN YOUNGSTOWN. WE FOUND 23 PROVIDERS WITHIN 10 MILES THAT HAD VACCINE AVAILABLE. XENIA OHIO, WE FOUND EIGHT PROVIDERS WITHIN 10 MILES WHO HAD VACCINE IN STOCK. LANCASTER FOR PROVIDER LOCATIONS WITHIN 10 MILES WITH VACCINE IN STOCK ATHENS FOR PROVIDER LOCATIONS WITHIN 25 MILES WITH VACCINE IN STOCK HUBER HEIGHTS 28 28 DIFFERENT PROVIDERS WITHIN 10 MILES. LAWRENCEVILLE HEIGHTS WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS 41 PROVIDERS WITHIN 10 MILES DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS AND IF I READ THAT BUT 34 LOCATIONS WITHIN WITHIN 10 MILES SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU DO THIS? OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO ONLINE YOU CAN ALSO WITH THE OVER 200 NEW LOCAL PHARMACIES OUR LOCALLY INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES YOU COULD WALK IN TO THOSE AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY. LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. YOU CAN ALL ALSO CALL THE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING OR YOU CAN CALL TWO ON ONE MANY PEOPLE ARE USED TO DIALING TWO ON ONE FOR CRITICAL SERVICES. YOU CAN CALL TO ONE ONE AS WELL. NOW BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL DOSES AND BECAUSE OF WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS FOR IS THE UP TICK THE UPTAKE. THERE’S STILL YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT DEMAND OUT THERE, BUT FRANKLY WE FELT KNOWING ALL THE NEW VACCINE THAT IS COMING IN VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND THAT THERE ARE THERE IS AVAILABLE VACCINE IN A NUMBER OF SITES RIGHT NOW IN OHIO. WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO EXPAND THE GROUP THAT IS ELIGIBLE. SO LET ME START WITH PHASE ONE SEE WHAT WE’RE CALLING OUR ONE C. OF VACCINATION PROGRAM PHASE ONE C INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY INCREASE A PERSON’S RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH FROM COVID-19. THAT IS ONE GROUP. THE NEXT GROUP IS THOSE IN CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS, WHICH I’LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT. LET ME TALK AND THEN I’LL FLIP IT OVER TO DR. VANDERHOFF. AND HE CAN EXPLAIN IT FROM MORE MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW, BUT WHAT WE’RE CALLING PHASE ONE C MEDICAL CONDITIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SO WE ARE ADDING THESE TO THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY. USED TYPE 1 DIABETES MOST PEOPLE DEVELOP TYPE 1 DIABETES BEFORE AGE 21 AND ARE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON INSULIN THERAPY FROM DAY ONE. IN CONTRAST TYPE 2 DIABETES IS MORE COMMON AMONG ADULTS AND IS LARGELY COUNTED FOR BY OUR AGE BASED APPROACH TO VACCINE ELIGIBILITY. SO AT THIS POINT AT THIS POINT TYPE 1 DIABETES TYPE 1 DIABETES, WE WERE REQUIRING THAT SOMEONE HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED. WE NO LONGER REQUIRE THAT SO ANYONE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES. NEXT WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OBVIOUSLY THE AGE GROUP DOES NOT COVER THEM. AND WE FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO COVER THEM. YOU HAVE TWO LIVES AT RISK. AND DR. VANDERHOFF WILL KIND OF EXPLAIN THE THE MEDICAL SITUATION IN THERE AGAIN, NO ONE’S TO TAKE THIS. THIS IS A GROUP THAT WE ARE MAKING ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE TODAY THE NEXT GROUP THE THIRD GROUP THOSE WHO HAVE HAD BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS A BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT. IT’S TREATMENT RESERVE MOSTLY FOR PEOPLE CERTAIN CANCERS AND ANEMIA’S AND PERFORMED AS SPECIALIZED TRANSPLANT CENTERS. AGAIN, DR. VAN HOEF WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. FINALLY, WE ARE CLARIFYING THAT ALS OR LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE IS A QUALIFYING SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH IT’S AGE OF ONSET MAY BE QUITE VARIABLE. IT WAS THE INTENT TO INCLUDE ALS WE DID NOT SPELL THAT OUT. WE ARE SPELLING THAT OUT TODAY IN RESPONSE TO SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED. AGAIN, THESE ARE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT INCREASE THE RISK OF SEVERE OUTCOMES OR DEATH FROM COVID-19, BUT AREN’T COVERED IN OUR AGE-BASED APPROACH. DOCTOR WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS. WELL, THANK YOU GOVERNOR AS YOU NOTED BEGINNING WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES. MOST PEOPLE DEVELOP TYPE 1 DIABETES BEFORE THEY’RE ADULTS. AND AS YOU ALSO NOTED THEY REQUIRE INJECTABLE INSULIN THERAPY RIGHT FROM THE START. SO IF YOU DEVELOPED DIABETES LATER IN LIFE, WAR IF YOUR DOCTOR FIRST BEGAN TREATING YOUR DIABETES WITH A PILL YOU PROBABLY HAVE THE MUCH MORE COMMON FORM OF DIABETES KNOWN AS TYPE 2. AND AS THE GOVERNOR NOTED FOR NOW, WE’RE ASKING TYPE 2 DIABETICS TO RECEIVE WITH THEIR AGE GROUP. SECONDLY PREGNANCY ALTHOUGH THE ACTUAL RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH FROM COVID-19 DURING PREGNANCY IS LOW. IT’S HIGHER THAN THAT FOR NON-PREGNANT PEOPLE OF THE SAME AGE. YOU SEE IF YOU’RE PREGNANT AND GET SICK WITH COVID-19. YOU’RE AT HIGHER RISK FOR BEING HOSPITALIZED IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND FOR REQUIRING THE HELP OF A BREATHING MACHINE AND IN TURN THAT PLACES YOU AT HIGHER RISK OF DEATH RESEARCH. ALSO SUGGESTS THAT HAVING COVID-19 DURING PREGNANCY MIGHT INCREASE THE RISK FOR PREMATURE DELIVERY OR PREMATURE BIRTH FOR YOUR BABY. NOW, OF COURSE WE RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU ARE PREGNANT AND CONSIDERING VACCINATION YOU FIRST DISCUSS THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF VACCINATION AS YOU WOULD FOR ANY TREATMENT OR VACCINATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR. THE GOVERNOR ALSO NOTED BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT. THESE ARE SOMETIMES ALSO CALLED HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS AND THESE PATIENTS AS THE GOVERNOR NOTED ARE UNDERGOING TREATMENT PRIMARILY FOR CANCER AND CERTAIN ANEMIAS AND THEY FACE AN INCREASED RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19 ILLNESS THIS CATEGORY. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THOUGH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE KIND OF STEM CELL INJECTIONS PEOPLE. MIGHT RECEIVE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR KNEES AND THEN LASTLY A MYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ALSO KNOWN AS THE GEHRIG’S DISEASE IS A VERY SERIOUS THOUGH VERY RARE CONDITION WITH GRADUALLY INCREASING WEAKNESS AND MUSCLE WASTING. AND THAT EVENTUALLY LEADS TO PARALYSIS AND EARLY DEATH. IT’S A VERY SERIOUS CONDITION OF THE NEUROLOGIC SYSTEM AND AS NOTED WE ARE CLARIFYING THAT IT IS INCLUDED AMONG OUR SERIOUS NEUROLOGIC CONDITIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADDITION. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS THAT WE ARE ADDING TODAY AGAIN AS PART OF ONE C. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS WELL AS CORRECTION OFFICERS THIS GROUP WILL INCLUDE SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PEACE OFFICERS WHO HAVE FIRST RESPONDER OR DIRECT SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES. THESE INDIVIDUALS MUST BE ACTIVE DUTY WORKING A REGULAR MINIMUM OF HOURS A WEEK. THEY DON’T INCLUDE RETIRED SPECIAL OR RESERVE OFFICERS EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INCLUDED ARE POLICE OFFICERS. SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES, OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPERS OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICERS SUCH AS OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE ENFORCEMENT STAFF PHARMACY BOARD INVESTIGATORS BCI AGENTS STATE FIRE MARSHAL EMPLOYEES FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICERS AND OTHER FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINATION FROM FEDERAL SOURCES. SOME DO APPARENTLY AND SOME DON’T WE WANT TO COVER ALL THOSE FEDERAL OFFICERS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE VACCINATION THIS GROUP ALSO INCLUDES CORRECTION STAFF THAT MEANS PROBATION PRO STAFF WHO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO AN ADULT OR A JUVENILE INMATE OR COURT SUPERVISED INDIVIDUAL. BASICALLY, IT’S THOSE WHO ARE WHO ARE DEALING WITH THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED. THIS GROUP WILL ALSO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A VALID ACTIVE FIREFIGHTING CERTIFICATE IN THE STATE OF OHIO WHO ARE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES OF A RECOGNIZED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE RETIRED EMERITUS OR RESERVE INDIVIDUALS AND DOES INCLUDE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL OR NEXT GROUP CHILD CARE THIS INCLUDES LEAD AND ASSISTANT TEACHERS AND SUCH SUBSTITUTES WHO ENROLLED IN OHIO’S PROFESSIONAL REGISTRY WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN OPEN CARE AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE LICENSING SPECIALIST EMPLOYED BY THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES ARE COUNTY JOB AND FAMILY SERVICE AGENCIES. THIS PHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE. AREN’T VOLUNTEERS BOARD MEMBERS OR OWNERS ADMINISTRATORS THAT DON’T PROVIDE IN CLASSROOM SUPPORT. WE EXPECT ABOUT 40,400 OHIOANS TO FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY ALSO FUNERAL SERVICES THIS GROUP WILL INCLUDE EMBALMERS MORTICIANS FUNERAL HOME DIRECTORS CREMATORY OPERATORS AND APPRENTICES WE ESTIMATE THAT THIS TO BE ABOUT 3600. INDIVIDUAL THE GRAND TOTAL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS EXPANDED THIS ONE SEA IS APPROXIMATELY 246,000 INDIVIDUALS. ALSO AND LET ME JUST CONCLUDE THAT THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT. THURSDAY THIS WILL GO INTO EFFECT THURSDAY. SO ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO I’VE HAVE JUST NAMED IN ONE SEA. WILL BE ELIGIBLE BEGINNING THURSDAY MORNING. ALSO THURSDAY. MARCH 4TH, WE WILL GO TO PHASE 2. PHASE TWO OF OUR PROGRAM WILL BEGIN AND WILL INCLUDE THOSE 60 YEARS OF AGE. AND OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER SO WE’RE LOWERING THE ELIGIBILITY OF 60. ANYBODY ABOVE 60 IS ELIGIBLE? AND AGAIN, THIS WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON THURSDAY. 93% OF OUR DEATHS ARE THOSE 60 AND ABOVE 93% OF OUR DEATHS? SO THE AGE NUMBERS ARE JUST VERY VERY CRITICAL. TWO-THIRDS OF OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THOSE 60 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER. LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE HAD STAYED ON 65 FOR ALMOST A MONTH OR CLOSE TO A MONTH. BASED UPON ALL THE FACTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL VACCINE COMING IN AND THE OPENINGS THAT WE WERE SEEING IN RESERVATIONS FOR VACCINATIONS. WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO MAKE THIS THIS EXPANSION. PHASE TWO HAS 695,000 INDIVIDUALS. POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE. SO IF YOU PUT THE TWO TOGETHER YOU SEE WERE SLIGHTLY OVER 900,000 IN THE GROUPS THAT WE’RE OPENING UP TODAY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE THIS MORNING AS I WAS TALKING TO THE DIFFERENT HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. NUMBER THEM JUST REMARKED AT THE AMAZING VOLUNTEERS WHO HAS TAKEN TO GET GET THIS JOB OF VACCINATION DONE. BOTH THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE STEPPED UP DONATED THEIR TIME TO HELP THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. WE VERY VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY’RE DOING. ERIC LET’S GO AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS REAL QUICKLY. CASES CONTINUE TO FEEL A LOT LESS THAT THEY WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO. SADLY OUR DESK. JUST CONTINUE. 49 REPORTING THIS DAY HOSPITALIZATIONS 103 THAT’S A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE 21 DAY ROLLING AVERAGE. AND OUR ICU ADMISSIONS ARE RIGHT AT WHAT THE 21-DAY AVERAGE IS ERIC. LET’S LOOK LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS ALL 88 COUNTIES RANKED. ALL 80 ACCOUNT IS RANKED BY HIGHEST INSTANCE WHAT YOU’LL SEE DOWN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. IS MORE THE COUNTIES THAT ARE IN WHITE AND THOSE ARE THE COUNTIES THAT ARE NOW BELOW BELOW THE CASE NUMBER THAT THE CDC CONSIDERS HIGH INCIDENCE. SO THE REST OF THEM ARE ABOVE HIGH INCIDENCE. THESE COUNTIES NOW OR NOW BELOW SO WE’RE HAPPY TO SEE THAT ERIC WILL LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE. JEFF JEFFERSON MORGAN ATHENS. THOSE ARE NOW OUR HIGHEST COUNTIES. ABOUT THREE TIMES WHAT THE CDC SAYS IS A HIGH INCIDENCE AGAIN. THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP 20, THESE ARE STILL VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY VERY HIGH NUMBERS AS FAR AS SPREAD AS CONCERNED ERIC. LET’S LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE. YOU’LL SEE HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS CONTINUE TO GENERALLY GO DOWN, ALTHOUGH IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER REPORTED FROM YESTERDAY’S HOSPITAL CENSUS YOU’LL SEE THAT THAT IS ACTUALLY UP BY 20, BUT THE TREND LINE THE GENERAL TREND LINE THE GENERAL TREND LINE HAS CONTINUED AND IT IS GOOD GOING CERTAINLY GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ERIC. WELL TODAY WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN REGARD TO OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR, KIM HENDERSON. KIM WAS MARRIED RECENTLY. CONGRATULATIONS KIM. SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE RELOCATING TO NORTH CAROLINA THIS SPRING. IN ORDER TO HELP CREATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION. SHE WILL REMAIN IN THE DIRECTORS ROLE UNTIL NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 8TH AT THAT TIME OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. MATT DAM SHRODER WILL MOVE IN AS INTERIM DIRECTOR AT JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES DIRECTOR. HENDERSON WILL BECOME A SENIOR ADVISOR TO HIM AND TO HER LAST DAY ON APRIL 30TH. WE WILL BEGIN A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR DIRECTOR HENDERSON’S PERMANENT REPLACEMENT. UNTIL THAT SEARCH IS COMPLETED MATT DAM SCHROEDER WILL PROVIDE STEADY LEADERSHIP. AT DAS MATT’S CURRENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MATT WATLEY WILL BECOME INTERIM DIRECTOR. DIRECTOR THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR JOINING WITH US AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ON YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOUR YOUR RELOCATION. SO TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. GOVERNOR. I KNOW ODGFS WILL BE IN GREAT HANDS UNDER DIRECTOR DAM SCHROEDER’S LEADERSHIP. IT’S TRULY BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE ON YOUR CABINET AND I’M GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD SUCH A TALENTED AND COMMITTED TEAM AT ODJFS. THEY ARE SERVING A RECORD-BREAKING THREE MILLION OHIOANS RIGHT NOW, AND I’M SO PROUD OF THEIR WORK. I’M ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE 150 PLUS LOCAL AGENCIES THAT HELP ADMINISTER OUR WORKFORCE AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS. I’M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND ERIC AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT HOME MY FRIENDS ON CABINET AND ON THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE TEAM. I’M HEADED TO NORTH CAROLINA IN MAY BUT OHIO WILL ALWAYS BE MY HOME. THANK YOU. WHAT DIRECTOR GOOD LUCK TO YOU? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE’RE VERY VERY GRATEFUL DIRECTOR WORKED WITH ME FOR A TIME WHEN I WAS. ATTORNEY GENERAL SO WE APPRECIATE WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR ALL YOUR SERVICE AND OUR VERY BEST WISHES TO YOU. BOTANIC, GOVERNOR THANK YOU. GOVERNOR. I WANTED TO JUST TOUCH BASE A LITTLE BIT AND OHIOANS AWARE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR COVID-19 RELIEF BILL THE PASTOR THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN RECENT DAYS. THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THE PLAN PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR FUNDING RELIEF FUNDING FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. HOWEVER, THERE’S A PROVISION IN HERE THAT I WANT TO RAISE AN ISSUE WITH AND THAT’S THE FACT THAT THE RELIEF BILL WHICH PROVIDES 350 BILLION DOLLARS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS USES A FORMULA THAT INCORPORATES THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF CALENDAR YEAR 2020 INSTEAD OF USING THE STRAIGHT POPULATION-BASED FORMULA. THAT IS TRADITIONAL IN MOST BILLS OF THIS NATURE. AND WAS CERTAINLY USED IN THE PREVIOUS CARES ACT. THERE IN IN DOING THIS. IT REALLY PUTS OHIO AND A LOT OF STATES AT A DISADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THIS OHIO WOULD DISPROPORTIONATELY AND NEGATIVELY BE IMPACTED BY OUR NUMBERS THAT THEY’RE USING THIS ON BASICALLY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO DECEMBER OF 2020 WHERE WE HAD A 5.5% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WHICH WOULD RANK US 21ST THE FUNDING IF IN TERMS OF FUNDING IF IT WERE BASED PURELY ON POPULATION, WE’D GET THE SEVENTH MOST WE GET WE’D BE RANK SEVENTH IN TERMS OF FUNDING TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE THIS PROPOSAL BECAUSE OF THIS FORMULA. IT’S BEING USED BASED ON AN EMPLOYMENT. WELL HOW I WOULD LOSE OVER 800 MILLION DOLLARS 800 MILLION DOLLARS AS COMPARED TO AN EQUITABLE POPULATION BASED FORMULA, WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR DEWINE AND GOVERNORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY SIGNED A LETTER. RELEASING A JOINT STATEMENT OPPOSING THE NEW STANDARD FOR THE FEDERAL STIMULUS BILL AND HOW IT WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR THE STATES. I WANT TO WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT IT. IT REALLY PUNISHES STATES. WHO’VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS, RIGHT? STATES THAT HAVE TRIED TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE FROM PANDEMIC AND ALSO PROTECTING PEOPLE’S ECONOMIC HEALTH. TRYING TO GET THEM BACK TO WORK WHERE IT WAS SAFE AND MANAGE THIS PANDEMIC IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY THAT FINDS THAT BALANCE. AND DOING THINGS THAT PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO COST US RELIEF DOLLARS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO AREN’T BACK TO WORK ACTUALLY NEED. AND WE DON’T FEEL THAT THIS IS A FAIR WAY TO DO THIS. AND I MIGHT ADD THIS. THAT IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. ALL 50 STATES ARE EXPERIENCING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ATTEMPTS AT FRAUD WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THAT UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER IS AN UNRELIABLE NUMBER ALSO FOR THAT FACT SO FOR THOSE TWO REASONS, I JUST WANT TO RAISE THE ISSUE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR US SENATORS NEW SENATOR BROWN AND AND SENATOR PORTMAN AND WE ASK THAT IT IN OUR SENATORS HELP FIX THIS LEGISLATION THAT CAME FROM THE HOUSE THAT WOULD PUNISH OHIOANS FRANKLY FOR GOING BACK TO WORK AND WE NEED THEIR HELP. SO GOVERNOR JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT POINT AND TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU NOW. GREAT. I SHINE THAT LETTER AND I THINK YOU KNOW. IS NOT FAIR. WE HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I GUESS WE’RE READY TO GO TO QUESTIONS. GOVERNOR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM JIM AUDI AT WHIO IN DAYTON. HEY JANITOR, THANK YOU. HEY, CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG. THIS IS THE SINGLE LARGEST GROUP THAT YOU HAVE GREEN LIGHTED FOR THE VACCINE GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE’S SOME PEOPLE THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS SOME PEOPLE DEPENDING ON THEIR OCCUPATION. NOW THIS NEW AGE GROUP. DO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO AVOID ANOTHER FRUSTRATING LOG JAM THAT WE’VE SEEN IN PREVIOUS GROUPS. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO HANDLE THIS ESPECIALLY SINCE WE DON’T HAVE THE EXTRA LARGE MASS VACCINATION SITES THAT ARE DOING THE FIVE AND 10,000 AT SPORTS STADIUMS. YEAH. WE JUST AREN’T THERE YET. CAN YOU DO THIS? WELL, JIM, WE’RE GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING SHORTLY ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS AS FAR AS MASS VACCINATION SITES. THAT WILL NOT COME FOR A WHILE, BUT IT’S NOT TOO FAR OFF. WE HAVE HAD BIG GROUPS BEFORE 80 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER IS A BIG GROUP IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE VACCINE COMING INTO THE STATE OF, OHIO. IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT THAT WE’VE EVER RECEIVED IT IS A BIG JUMP FROM WHAT WE’VE SEEN BEFORE AND WE’RE ALSO SEEING WHILE SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL HAVING SOME TROUBLE GETTING THE VACCINE. WE’RE ALSO SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE WE HAVE. NOW OVER 1200 LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF OHIO, THAT’S UP 500 FROM WHAT WE STARTED WITH. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW WELL OVER 400,000 DOSES COMING INTO THE OHIO IT’S ALWAYS A TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT YOU DON’T WANT IS VACCINE LEFT OVER. YOU DON’T WANT VACCINE WASTED. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A RACE AGAINST TIME. WE KNOW THAT THERE’S A GREAT POTENTIAL OUT THERE THAT THIS VIRUS MAY GET A LOT MORE CONTAGIOUS VERY QUICKLY. BY SOME ESTIMATES BY THE END OF THE MONTH OF MARCH SO EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT GOES BY IT’S IMPERATIVE. THAT WE GET AS MANY SHOTS IN PEOPLE’S ARMS AS WE CAN. SO WE HAVE TO EXPAND THAT GROUP. PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THAT VACCINE GETS TAKEN UP AFTER IT COMES INTO THE STATE OF OHIO BECAUSE TO LET IT SET IS JUST NOT A GOOD THING TO WASTE ITS HORRIBLE. AND TO LET IT SIT AND BE SLOW AND GETTING IT OUT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THERE ARE LIVES OUT THERE THAT COULD BE SAVED. AND THOSE LIVES ARE NOT BEING SAVED NOT BEING PROTECTED BECAUSE WE WOULD BE SLOW IN THE UPTICK. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING. WE MADE THIS DECISION. IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION, BUT I’M CONFIDENT THAT IT’S THE RIGHT DECISION. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TOM JACKSON AT THE SANDUSKY REGISTER. TOM HI GOVERNOR. THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION GOVERNOR. I THINK PROBABLY LIKE MANY PEOPLE I’VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH THE VACCINATION SCOREBOARD THAT YOU HAVE AT CORONAVIRUS. DOT GOV AND I’M WONDERING HOW YOU’RE GOING TO UPDATE THAT NOW THAT YOU HAVE A SINGLE DOSE VACCINES AND HOW QUICKLY YOU’RE GOING TO SWITCH OVER YOUR SCORE KEEPING SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, LOOK WE LOOKED TOM. I’M SURE YOU DON’T LIKE THE SYSTEM, BUT WE THINK IT’S WE THINK IT’S ACCURATE. IT SHOWS FIRST DOSES AND IT SHOWS SECOND DOSES. AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY NOW THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE WHERE WE HAVE TO WHERE IT’S ONLY ONE DOSE WHICH IS A WHICH IS A GOOD THING. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE FIRST DOSE AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW ABOUT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE ULTIMATE DOSE AND SO OUR OUR REPORT WILL SHOW THAT AND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT WE’VE BEEN CONTINUED TO REPORT FIRST DOSES AND SECOND DOSES. WE REPORT THEM SEPARATELY. WE REPORT THE DEMOGRAPHIC SEPARATELY AND YOU’LL SEE WHEN WE COME OUT WHEN THE SWITCH IS MADE OVER SO THAT WE’RE STARTING TO SEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS WHEN WE’RE STARTING. YOU SEE THOSE AT ONE VACCINE COME INTO PLAY. WE’LL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ON THAT SCOREBOARD GOVERNOR JUST TO CLARIFY. I LIKE THE SCOREBOARD JUST FINE. I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I WAS JUST ASKING WHEN YOU’RE GOING TO CLARIFY IT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A NEW KIND OF VACCINE. YEAH, AND WE’LL BE PUTTING SOMETHING OUT ALL LIKELIHOOD TOMORROW BEFORE THAT FIRST NUMBER HITS THERE. SO WE’LL BE BACK THIS TIME. THIS IS A QUESTION. I ASK OUR TEAM THIS MORNING AND I DIDN’T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET AN ANSWER BACK BEFORE I WALK IN HERE TODAY. WE’LL HAVE AN ANSWER TOMORROW BEFORE THAT. YOU KNOW THOSE NUMBERS START ACCUMULATING ON THERE. THANKS GOVERNOR. YOU’RE RIGHT ON IT. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LAURA HANCOCK AT CLEVELAND.COM. HELLO. HI GOVERNOR. I HAVE A QUESTION ALSO ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE YOU BROUGHT IN SOME PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTS TO HELP WITH THE SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY. WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU GUYS MADE? YEAH, WE’RE GONNA HAVE A REPORT. THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND FROM THE PEOPLE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO HAVE COME IN AND I’M GOING TO LET THEM TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CAN CERTAINLY TALK MORE IN DEPTH. WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IT’S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CLAY GORDON AT WBNS IN COLUMBUS. HEY GOVERNOR, ARE YOU THERE? I’M HERE. I CLAY GOOD AFTERNOON. OBVIOUSLY MAJOR EXPANSION NEWS TODAY WITH THOSE ELIGIBLE, BUT I GOT TO ASK. WHAT’S THE NEXT BENCHMARK YOUR OFFICE IS LOOKING AT THE HIT FOR MAYBE EXPANDING FOR A NEW AND NEW AGE GROUPS. AGE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE OUR DOMINANT INDICATOR. WE KNOW THAT WE CAN WHEN WE GET DOWN TO 50. WE’RE GOING TO BE AT 97 OR 98 PERCENT OF ALL THE DEATHS HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OVER 50. SO AGE IS REALLY THE BEST INDICATOR. YOU KNOW, WE’RE BALANCING THESE THINGS AND TRYING TO ASSESS WHERE THE RISK IS. WE’RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE RISK IS AND SO AS YOU SAW WHAT WE DID TODAY, WE LOWER THE AGE DOWN TO 60 AT THE SAME TIME. WE PUT SOME SEVERAL SEVERAL GROUPS IN THERE. AND SO THAT IS JUST IT’S IT’S A BALANCE AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE INTEND TO DO AFTER 60 IS TO GO TO 55 AND AFTER 55 WE INTEND TO GO TO 50. AND WHETHER WE ADD ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONS WE HAVE NOT FRANKLY DECIDED BUT THE AGE WILL CONTINUE. AGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE KEY THE KEY INDICATOR. SO WE’RE GOING TO TAKE IT. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN AS SOON AS WE CAN TO 55 THEN THEN TO 50, BUT WE’VE GOT TO SEE THE UPTAKE HERE AND YOU KNOW, WE SAT ON 65 FOR CLOSER CLOSE TO A MONTH. AND WE THINK THAT WAS ABOUT THE ABOUT THE RIGHT PERIOD OF TIME I CERTAINLY DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE AT 60 FOR A MONTH, BUT WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE UPTAKE IS ALONG WITH THE OTHER GROUPS THAT WE JUST ADDED. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MARTY SCHLADEN AT THE OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL. GOOD MORNING AFTERNOON GOVERNOR AFTERNOON. UM, SO AMONG THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE NOW ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE PRISONS, BUT IT DOESN’T APPEAR THAT INMATES ARE IS THAT RIGHT? AND WHY NOT? IF SO, WE WE HAVE FOLLOWED WE HAVE FOLLOWED MARTY WITH PRISONERS AND THE ATTITUDE HAS BEEN ANYBODY IN, OHIO. ON AGE SO ANYBODY OVER 65 UP UNTIL THIS THURSDAY? WHERE THEY’RE IN PRISON NOT IN PRISON, WHOEVER THEY ARE. THEY’RE ALL THEY WERE ELIGIBLE. WE’LL GO DOWN ON THURSDAY TO AGE 60 IN ADDITION TO THAT. WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR PRISONS WHO ARE IN THE EQUIVALENT. NURSING HOME AND SO WHEN WE GOT TO THAT POINT THEY THEY WERE INCLUDED. SAME THING WITH THE MEDICAL GROUPS. MEDICAL GROUPS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE BEFORE ANYBODY IN PRISON WAS ELIGIBLE IF THEY HIT THAT MEDICAL GROUP. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE FOLLOWING, BUT YOU’RE CORRECT. BESIDES THAT WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED WE ARE NOT VACCINATING PRISONERS BEYOND THAT AT THIS POINT, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE CERTAINLY VACCINATED PRISONERS WHO FALL FALLEN UNDER THOSE OTHER THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD POINT OUT IN ONE OF THE YOU KNOW ARGUMENT CERTAINLY FOR DOING THIS. IS THAT THE VIRUS COMES INTO THE PRISON BY PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE OR PEOPLE WHO ARE DELIVERING SOMETHING AND THAT’S THE ONLY WAY IT CAN COME IN PRISONERS AREN’T LEAVING. SO BY VACCINATING THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ALL SO LESSENS THE CHANCE THAT THE PRISONERS THEMSELVES WILL GET IT. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAN DEROSE AT W O CLEVELAND. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. HEY, DAN. ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT LOGISTICAL BALLETS HERE ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS WE GET THAT IS WHEN WE ADD ANOTHER GROUP THESE MAJOR PHARMACIES AND I CAN’T SAY THAT I BLAME THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE TRYING TO RUN PHARMACIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE A PROBLEM UPDATING THEIR WEBSITES SO THAT HEY NOW, I’M ELIGIBLE, BUT I KEEP GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE. IT KEEPS KICKING ME OUT. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE PHARMACIES TO HEY THIS THURSDAY, YOU BETTER BE READY AND IT BETTER BE UP AND ROLLING. THEY BETTER BE READY. WE’VE TOLD THEM THAT AND YOU KNOW PART OF THE THE DECISION-MAKING IN REGARD TO ANNOUNCING IT TODAY, BUT IT GOING INTO EFFECT ON THURSDAY WAS HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TO TAKE THEM TO UPDATE THAT? AND WE WENT AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT CHAIN PHARMACIES AND WE WERE SATISFIED THAT THEY COULD UPDATE IT BY THURSDAY MORNING. SO THAT WAS YOUR ABSOLUTELY RIGHT? TO CONCERN IT’S A CONSIDERATION AND IT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AND IN PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THIS IS HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE FOR THEM TO UPDATE SO THAT IF SOMEONE HAD THAT MEDICAL CONDITION AND THEY WENT IN THAT SYSTEM WOULD BE READY FOR THEM. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ANDREW WELSH HUGGINS AT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. HI GOVERNOR, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, YES. SURE. YEAH. THANKS FOR DOING THIS AS ALWAYS I HAD A QUESTION ON THE NUMBERS ON THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL VACCINATIONS. I THINK YOU SAID IT WAS AROUND 200,000 K-12. I’M WONDERING IF DO WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF TEACHERS VERSUS OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT FIGURE IS RELATED TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL AND DEPENDING ON THAT ANSWER IS ARE THERE PLANS TO SIMILAR WITH THE NURSING HOME EMPLOYEES? WHO WERE? A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO GET IT. WHAT’S THE STRATEGY FOR CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE VACCINATIONS ON PLACE? THANK YOU ANDREW. MY GUESS IS WE’LL CHECK ON THIS. MY GUESS IS WE DO NOT HAVE A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN A TEACHER AND A BUS DRIVER OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU IS THE THE TOTAL THAT WAS REPORTED TO US. AND THAT WAS OVER 300,000 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE. WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE PHARMACY PARTNERS ESTIMATED AFTER TALKING TO THE SCHOOLS WHAT THE ESTIMATED THE UPTAKE WOULD BE AND WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR FINAL NUMBERS TO COME IN IN REGARD TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY TOOK IT BUT ARE BEST GUESS AT THIS POINT ABOUT IT’S ABOUT 200,000. BUT I DON’T BELIEVE WE CAN BREAK IT DOWN BY OCCUPATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL, BUT YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY WE CERTAINLY WILL CHECK ON THAT AS FAR AS OUR NURSING HOMES. WE ARE NOW NOW STARTED. THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR VACCINATIONS IN OUR NURSING HOMES WE HAD THE FIRST VACCINES GOING TO SOME OF THE NURSING HOMES LATE. WEEK MORE OF THEM THIS WEEK AND MORE OF THEM THE NEXT WEEK. IT’S OUR GOAL TO HAVE EVERY ONE OF THESE NURSING HOMES ENROLLED BECAUSE ALL NURSING HOMES CONTINUE TO GET NEW EMPLOYEES. THEY ALL CONTINUE TO GET NEW RESIDENTS. AND SO EVERY NEW EMPLOYEE EVERY NEW RESIDENT SHOULD BE OFFERED AND WILL BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VACCINATION IN ADDITION TO THAT. WE ARE URGING OUR NURSING HOMES IF THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE EMPLOYEES OR RESIDENTS WHO THE FIRST TIME AND THE SECOND TIME AROUND SAID NO, I DON’T WANT IT IF THEY’VE CHANGED THEIR MIND. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM VACCINATED. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A PROGRAM. WE’RE PROUD OF IT’S NOT INTO FULL FORESH YET, BUT IT’S IT’S MOVING. IT’S MOVING TOWARDS THAT AND THESE NURSING HOMES WILL GET THOSE DRUGS. THEY’LL GET THAT VACCINE THROUGH. PHARMACY GROUP THAT NORMALLY SUPPLIES THEM WITH WITH WITH THE DRUGS. AND WE’LL BE FILTERING THESE VACCINES THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT GROUPS AND WE THINK IT’S A PROGRAM THAT’S GOING TO WORK VERY WELL. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SPENCER HICKEY AT HANNAH NEWS SERVICE. THANK YOU GOVERNOR OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE CDC THIS MORNING. MADE A COMMENT THAT ROLLING BACK. PUBLIC HEALTH RESTRICTIONS TOO QUICKLY COULD CAUSE THE NATION TO QUOTE COMPLETELY LOSE THE HARD-EARNED GROUND WITH GAINED. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THAT AS FAR AS WHAT OHIO WILL DO. DOWN I TOTALLY AGREE. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE’VE GOT TWO THINGS GOING FOR US. TOO BIG THINGS AND ONE IS THE VACCINE AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO VACCINATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN BUT TWO IS WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS. WE NOW KNOW THAT MASKS ARE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. WE’VE SEEN WHAT IT’S DONE IN SCHOOLS WHEN ALL KIDS WILL WEAR A MASK. WE’VE SEEN VIRTUALLY NO SPREAD IN THE CLASSROOM ITSELF. AND SO AS WE TALK ABOUT FAIRS THIS SUMMER AS WE TALK ABOUT BASEBALL GAMES AS WE TALK ABOUT ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN DO THEM IS THE GOOD NEWS. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE MASKS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE COMPLIANCE AND THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE ARE STRESSED WITH EVERY GROUP THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT. WHAT IS THE SUMMER GOING TO LOOK LIKE SO YOU WILL NOT SEE US LETTING UP IN REGARD TO THE MASK WEARING AND THE DISTANCING UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE THAT HERD IMMUNITY THAT WE’RE ALL LONGING FOR AND SO WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS THIS SUMMER, BUT WE’VE GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL. SO I AGREE ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. WITH THAT STATEMENT NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JOE INGLES AT OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION. HELLO GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THESE EXTRA SHOTS THAT ARE BEING WE’RE STILL HEARING PEOPLE SAY THAT SHOTS ARE BEING WASTED. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU ARE TRACKING THAT TO SEE HOW MANY IS WASTED AND CAN WE GET UPDATES ON WHERE THOSE ARE BEING WASTED IF THAT IS THE CASE? WE’RE ALL SO READING THAT WALMART IN CVS ARE SAYING IF THEY HAVE EXTRA SHOTS AND THEY CAN’T FIND SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY IN THE ELIGIBLE GROUP TO TAKE THEM THAT THEY’RE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? AND HOW DO YOU THINK THESE EXTRA SHOTS SHOULD BE HANDLED? SHOULD THERE BE A WAITING LIST AN ON CALL LIST OR SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN PULL FROM I MEAN, WE’RE IT’S JUST LIKE EVERYONE’S HANDLING IT DIFFERENTLY. JOE WE’VE MADE IT SO CLEAR TO PEOPLE WILL DO I’LL DO THIS AGAIN. WE NOW HAVE YOU KNOW, AN ADDITIONAL 500 PROVIDERS OUT THERE SO, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE 1,2005 PROVIDERS I’M SURE SOMEONE IS NOT ALWAYS LISTENING, BUT WE THINK THE PROVIDERS BY AND LARGE GET IT UNDERSTAND. WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR. WHAT WE HAVE SAID, IS THAT IF YOU FIRST OF ALL YOU SHOULD TRY TO ESTIMATE THE BEST YOU CAN SECOND IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING LEFT OVER AND YOU CANNOT KEEP IT TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS. ARE SAYING TO THEM IS YOU SHOULD HAVE WHEN YOU START THAT DAY. A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU’RE GOING TO GO TO AND I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF THEM DO HAVE A LIST AND WE’VE ASKED THEM TO GET THAT LIST FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ELIGIBLE GROUP. SO THAT’S A PRETTY BROAD GROUP BEGINNING ON THURSDAY. IT’LL BE ANYBODY OVER 60. AS WELL AS OTHER OCCUPATIONS SO THEY REALLY SHOULDN’T HAVE A TROUBLE BEING ABLE TO GO TO THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE GROUPS, BUT WE HAVE SAID IN THE RARE CASE WHERE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN OR CAN’T HAPPEN. NO, WE DO NOT WANT ONE WASTED. AND SO GIVING THEM TO THEIR EMPLOYEES UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD WOULD BE FINE THE LAST THING WE WANT SEE IS THOSE WASTED. AND LOOK THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF ON THE INTERNET ABOUT STORIES, BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE PUBLISHED WE HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT A COUPLE CASES, YOU KNOW, VERY VERY SAD CASES WHERE IT EXPIRED. THERE WAS A REASON THAT THAT HAPPENED IT WASN’T GOOD, BUT YOU KNOW, WE REPORT ANYTHING THAT WE KNOW IN REGARD TO THAT WHICH I GOVERNOR. YEAH GOVERNOR AGAIN. I REFERENCED THIS THIS FORM EVERY EVERY PROVIDER HAS HAD THE GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS. THEY KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO PUT A WAITING LIST TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE AT THESE BY AGE GROUP BY QUALIFICATION GROUP SO THAT THEY CAN CALL THEM AT THE END OF THE DAY IF THEY THINK THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE EXTRAS. I KNOW LOOK WHEN THERE ARE OVER 700 NOW, WE’RE OVER 1200. IS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED? THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WON’T DO IT THE WAY WE’VE ASKED THEM TO AND CLEARLY DEFINED HOW THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT, BUT I ASK THIS QUESTION JOE WHEN I GO TO VISIT THESE PLACES WHERE I WAS IN MANSFIELD AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS AT HOPEWELL AND CHILLICOTHE AND I SAY HEY, DO YOU HAVE YOUR DO YOU HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY LIST AVAILABLE? AND THEY’RE LIKE, OH, YEAH. YEAH, WE HAVE IT AND IT’S FILLED OUT AND ON CAJUNS WHERE PEOPLE DON’T SHOW UP FOR APPOINTMENTS OR WE HAVE EXTRA DOSES BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE OUT OF THE VIALS OR WHATEVER. IT MIGHT BE THEY THEY CALL THEIR LIST AND AND EVERY PROVIDER THAT I’VE TALKED TO HAS BUILT THIS LIST AND WORKED THROUGH IT WHEN WHEN THE TIME COMES. THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JESSE BALMER TO THE CINCINNATIAN CHOIR. HELLO, GOVERNOR, JESSE. I IMAGINE EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A LIST YOU HAVE PEOPLE EXCITED TO BE ON IT AND PEOPLE FRUSTRATED NOT TO BE ON IT. BUT IF YOU COULD MAYBE EXPLAIN WHY CERTAIN CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER KIDNEY DISEASE AREN’T ON IT OR CERTAIN PROFESSIONS LIKE RESTAURANT WORKERS OR GROCERY WORKERS WHO, YOU KNOW, PRESUMABLY HAVE A LOT OF CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL. SURE, DR. VANDERHOFF REFER TO HIM ON THE MEDICAL ON THE MEDICAL SIDE OF OF THAT. WE BELIEVE THAT. AGE IS STILL THE BEST INDICATOR. WE’VE MADE SOME EXCEPTIONS WHEN WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A COMPELLING CASE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WAS AT VERY SIGNIFICANT RISK. AND WE MADE EXCEPTIONS FOR FOR THOSE DR. VANDERHOFF. THIS GOVERNOR. THAT’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YOU KNOW OUR EFFORT IS TO DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST PEOPLE WITH A LIMITED RESOURCE THAT’S AVAILABLE AND AGE REALLY IS OUR BEST GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING PEOPLE IN OHIO WHO ARE AT RISK FOR DYING FROM COVID-19 THERE REALLY IS NO MEASURE NO WAY OF IDENTIFYING ONE’S RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS OR DEATH. THAT’S BETTER THAN AGE MANY OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON OUR LIST OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE ONES THAT ARE MUCH MORE COMMON AS WE GET OLDER AND WELL IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE SOME OF THOSE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS WHEN WE ARE USING AN AGE-BASED CUTOFF. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE COUNTING FOR MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SO SIMPLY PUT AGE REALLY DOES ALLOW US TO BEST CAPTURE RISK AS EVIDENCE BY THE FACT ON THE GOVERNOR SHARED THIS BEFORE THAT YOU KNOW, IT’S 65 PLUS WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR 87% OF THE RISK OF DEATH AND WHEN WE GET DOWN AS WE’RE APPROACHING AGE 50 WILL BE AT AROUND 97 OR 98% OF ACCOUNTING FOR THE RISK OF DEATH. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ADRIAN ROBBINS AT WCMH IN COLUMBUS. HI GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR TAKING OUR QUESTIONS TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE. DOES THE STATE HAVE ANY PLAN IN PLACE TO TRY TO UTILIZE THE THE ONE SHOT DOSES TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND FOR PEOPLE WHO GO TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WHEN THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE IS HERE. SHOULD THEY BE HESITANT ABOUT GETTING THAT VACCINE VERSUS THE MODERN OR THE PFIZER VACCINE ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE OLDER? WHILE THAT DR. VANDERHOFF TAKE THAT I WILL POINT OUT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE MADE IT CLEAR. THEY WANTED, YOU KNOW BROAD THROUGH EVERY EVERY POPULATION GROUP OR AT LEAST EVERY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF THE STATE AND WE HAVE WE HAVE TRIED TO TRY TO DO THAT AND TO TO FOLLOW THAT DR. VANDERHOFF YOU WANT ABOUT THE YES COMPARISONS OF THE THREE. YES, SIR. CERTAINLY. WELL, YOU KNOW THE NEWS REGARDING JOHNSON AND JOHNSON IS VERY VERY GOOD INDEED. WE NOW HAVE A SINGLE DOSE VACCINE THAT STORES VERY NICELY WITH REGULAR REFRIGERATION AND APPEARS TO NOT ONLY BE EFFECTIVE BUT TO HAVE A VERY MODEST SIDE EFFECT PROFILE. REMEMBER WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE VACCINES THE END POINT THAT MATTERS IS DO THEY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING HOSPITALIZED AND DYING AND THIS VACCINE IS A HUNDRED PERCENT EFFECTIVE AT THAT ENDPOINT AND THAT’S TRUE NOT JUST HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BRAZIL WHERE THE HIGHLY RESISTANT STRAINS ARE CIRCULATING SO IN A NUTSHELL I LOOK AT WHAT WE NOW HAVE AVAILABLE AND THERE WERE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP A MENU OF OPTIONS ONE OF THOSE IS JOHNSON & JOHNSON ONE SHOT INSTEAD OF TWO A FAVORABLE SIDE EFFECT PROFILE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE HAVE THREE VACCINES ALL OF WHICH WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL OUT OF THE ICU AND OUT OF THE MORGUE. LET ME JUST ADD TO THAT ONE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT YOU KNOW, OR ARE THERE LOGICAL PLACES? WHERE ONE SHOT? MAKES MORE SENSE AND WE’RE STILL WE’RE STILL ANALYZING THAT AND WE’LL HAVE MORE. IN THE DAYS AHEAD. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SCOTT HALLIS AT THE XENIA DAILY GAZETTE. IT’S GO IT’LL HELP HIGHER MUTED MYSELF. CAN YOU HEAR ME? AGAIN NOW SCOTT YOU’RE GOOD. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO WITH REGARDS TO FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ALREADY, AND THIS MIGHT BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR DR. VANNER HALL. I’VE SEEN SOME PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND JUST OUT AND ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WELL, I’VE HAD MY VACCINES NOW. I’VE HAD BOTH DOSES. I’M NOT GOING TO WEAR A MASK ANYMORE. I’M JUST GONNA GO OUT AND AND DO WHATEVER I WANT. LIFE BACK TO NORMAL BECAUSE I’M NOT GONNA GET YOU KNOW, I’M OUT AT RISK AT GETTING GETTING COVID-19. IS THAT IS THAT A SMART PLAY OR THEY’RE STILL PRECAUTIONS PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY BE CARRIERS AND NOT SHOW ANY SYMPTOMS EVEN THOUGH THEY’VE HAD THE THE VACCINE THEY CAN STILL PASS ON TO PEOPLE. DR. RANDALL, SO YOURS, THANK YOU. WELL, I I THINK THAT YOUR ANSWERS A VERY VERY GOOD ONE. LET ME EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER SO OUR VACCINES ARE VERY VERY GOOD, BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT ANY OF THEM ARE 100% SO UNTIL MORE AND MORE OF US GET VACCINATED IT’S PREMATURE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING ASIDE OUR MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING NUMBER OF THINGS COULD AND ONE YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE AND BEEN ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE VACCINE REALLY WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. SECONDLY, THERE’S A TIME PERIOD BETWEEN WHEN YOU GET THE VACCINE AND THE VACCINE IS EFFECTIVE IT’S VARIABLE, BUT IT’S A PERIOD OF WEEKS FOR FOR ALL OF THESE VACCINES AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR YOUR YOUR VACCINATION AND THEN THE THIRD ISSUE. IS THAT ONCE WE’RE FULLY VACCINATED OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE READY TO GO WHEN WE’RE EXPOSED TO ANY VIRUS. IT TAKES OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO BE READY TO DEAL WITH THAT AND PREVENT US FROM SPREADING IT. OTHERS SO IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO HERD IMMUNITY WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO THAT AS THE GOVERNOR IS NOTED. WE’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO START TALKING ABOUT MOVING BACK AWAY FROM SOME OF THESE SAFEGUARDS THAT WE’RE USING NOW, BUT IT’S PREMATURE. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ALEXIS MOBERGER AT WSYX IN COLUMBUS. HI GOVERNOR, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY? CANDIDATE ALEXIS. THANK YOU. GREAT, SO DR. VANDERHOFF, AND YOU JUST KIND OF TOUCHED TOUCHED ON IT, BUT WITH THESE VACCINE CLINICS, ARE THEY GOING TO BE THE ONES TO DECIDE HOW ALL THREE VACCINES ARE DISTRIBUTED OR WILL THERE BE GUIDANCE ON WHO GETS YOU KNOW, THE JOHNSON VACCINE MODERNA VISOR, I GUESS. I GUESS. HOW DO YOU KEEP PEOPLE FROM? INTO PICKY DECIDING WHICH ONES THEY WANT OR DON’T WANT WHEN THEY GO INTO A VACCINE CLINIC. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S BEEN SAID VERY WELL BY NUMBER OF THE NATIONAL EXPERTS AS WELL AS DR. VAN DER HOFF. THEY’VE ALL SAID REALLY THE SAME THING IF YOU CAN GET THE VACCINE GET IT, YOU KNOW, WE’VE SEEN WE’VE SEEN TRAGICALLY TOO MANY CASES GOT THE VACCINE. AND IT WAS TOO LATE. THEY ALREADY HAD THE COVID AND THEY DIED AND WE JUST SEE THESE. THAT’S WHY IT’S SO IMPERATIVE, YOU KNOW EVERYDAY MATTERS. EVERY DAY MATTERS, SO IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT VACCINE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GET A DR. VANDERHOFF. OH, YES YOU YES, GOVERNOR. I THINK YOU SAID IT VERY VERY WELL. THE BEST VACCINE TO GET IS THE ONE THAT IS AVAILABLE WHEN IT’S YOUR TURN GET IN LINE AND GET YOUR VACCINE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE NOW HAVE THREE VACCINES THAT WILL KEEP US SAFE. AND I THINK THAT THAT’S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL FEEL GOOD ABOUT. BUT LET ME ADD ONE THING. I FORGOT TO MENTION AND THIS I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR SCHEDULING. SO NOT JUST FOR THE PROVIDERS BUT FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE. GOING TO TRY TO GET THE VACCINE WE HAVE NOW AUTHORIZED THE PROVIDERS TO BOOK. FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 8TH. AS WELL AS THEM WEEK OF MARCH 15. SO THIS WEEK AND THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THEY CAN NOW BOOK. WE’VE TOLD THEM TO ASSUME 75% OF THE DOSES THAT THEY’RE RECEIVING THIS WEEK. WE HOPE THAT THEY’LL GET MORE AND THEY VERY WELL MAY GET MORE AND SO THAT MEANS THAT YOU KNOW THOSE MAY FREE UP AS THEY GET CLOSER IN TIME, BUT THIS IS GOING TO ENABLE THE PROVIDERS TO BOOK FOR THREE WEEKS. AND IT’S GOING TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATIONS BOOKED. SO IT SHOULD OPEN UP A LOT MORE SLOTS ONCE THE PROVIDERS GET THAT GET THAT MOVING IN THE NEXT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AND I THINK IT’S GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE A SLOT. THEY HAVE A VACCINE TIME. THEY HAVE A DATE AND I THINK THAT WILL THAT WILL HELP AS WELL. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JUSTIN DENNIS AT MAHONINGMATTERS.COM. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. AFTERNOON WE’D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE NEW CAPACITY LIMITS ON ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTING VENUES AFFECT SCHOOL MUSICAL OR THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES. YOU MAY REMEMBER WE ASKED LAST MONTH ABOUT GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOL ARTS GIVEN THE UPCOMING ORDERS SAYS ANY MORE THOUGHT BEEN GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO CHOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN ARTS RATHER THAN SPORTS WHO MAY STILL HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A SPRING PERFORMANCE AND AND MAYBE DR. VANDERHOFF COULD COULD WEIGH IN ON HOW THESE EVENTS ARE CONSIDERED RISKIER THAN SPORTS. HAS A GRANDFATHER WHO’S ENJOYED A LOT OF MUSICALS AND AND PLAYS FROM MY GRANDCHILDREN AT SCHOOL. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. WE’VE NOT PUT OUT SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON THAT. WHAT WERE BROADWAY PLAY COMING INTO TOWN MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITH THE THIRD PUBLIC CAN’T OF AN AUDIENCE OR YOU KNOW A FRACTION OF AN AUDIENCE CERTAINLY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CAN OCCUR HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS CAN OCCUR AND WE WILL IN THE NEXT YOU KNOW WEEK OR SO GIVE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE IN REGARD TO THAT SO I WOULD THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE ABLE THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE. THIS SPRING IS THEODORE THEATER IN OUR IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND OUR COLLEGES? NEXT QUESTION IS FROM NATHAN HART AT WCPO IN CINCINNATI. HI GOVERNOR. WE’RE STILL HEARING FROM VIEWERS THAT THEY’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THEIR ELIGIBLE LOVED ONES VACCINATED. IS THERE A RISK THAT WITH THE PHASE 1C AND PHASE TWO THAT THESE ARE HIGH ONES COULD CROWD OUT PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE HIGHLANDS HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED YET. TELL ME THAT I GOT THE FIRST PART THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THEIR RELATIVES SET UP FOR THE VACCINATION. BUT GIVE ME THE SECOND PART, SO I’M NOT SURE I HEARD IT CORRECTLY. YEAH NOW WE HAVE THESE TWO NEW LARGE GROUPS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET VACCINATED. IS THERE A RISK THAT THESE NEW GROUPS COULD CROWD OUT THE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE OHIOANS WHO MAYBE HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO GET VACCINATED YET? WELL, THAT’S ALWAYS THE FEAR. I MEAN THAT’S ALWAYS THE FEAR THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH THE DAMAGE. THAT WOULD BE DONE IF WE GET A LOT OF THE VACCINE THAT THERE’S NOT THE UPTAKE. AND THAT WE DON’T GET IT IN PEOPLE’S ARMS. SO IT’S A COST AND BALANCE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU KEEP ENOUGH PRESSURE? SO YOU’RE GETTING THE VACCINE TAKEN UP EVERY TAKEN WE TOLD OUR PROVIDERS. YOU NEED TO HAVE IT OUT IN FIVE DAYS. ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS. DON’T BE SITTING THERE WITH IT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT TIME IS IS OF THE ESSENCE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO GET IT AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT. YOU KNOW WHAT I READ JUST A MOMENT AGO WAS FOUR THINGS WERE THIS MORNING. AND YOU KNOW AS OF THIS MORNING WITHOUT ADDING ANY ANY GROUPS OR WITHOUT ADDING ANY REALLY HUGE NUMBER OF PROVIDERS THERE WERE A LOT OF PLACES OPEN WE NOW ARE ALLOWING THE REGISTRATION FOR A TOTAL OF THREE WEEKS SO THE PROVIDERS CAN REGISTER FOR THREE WEEKS. YOU KNOW THAT WHOLE WEEK OF THE 15TH BEGINNING ON THE 15TH. SO THAT’S GOING TO OPEN UP A LOT MORE SLOTS AND THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE THAT IS COMING INTO OHIO. WELL, WELL OVER 400,000 DOSES FIRST DOSES THIS WEEK IS ALSO GOING TO OPEN UP A LOT OF OTHER SLOTS. WE WILL HAVE A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT OTHER LOCATIONS COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK. SO THERE’S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SLOTS OUT THERE. WILL THERE STILL BE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING DIFFICULT? I’M SURE THAT’S TRUE. I WISH IT WASN’T TRUE, BUT WE’RE JUST TRYING TO BALANCE THESE THESE TWO THINGS. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JOHN LONDON AT WLWT IN CINCINNATI. HEY, JOHN, I’M GOVERNOR. SO I APOLOGIZE IF I’M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE, BUT I WANT SOME SOME CLARITY FROM YOU IF YOU WOULD I THOUGHT ONE SEE INCLUDED ESSENTIAL WORKERS AT ONE TIME FOOD SERVICE AND MANUFACTURING OR AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT. ARE THEY NOT ELIGIBLE NOW OR AND WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT WHEN THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE? JOHN THE CDC ON THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE CAME OUT AND THEY HAD DIFFERENT ORDERS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE WHEN WE LOOK ONE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE CDC DID IS THEY HAD A HUGE GROUP, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A HUGE GROUPS AND THEY DIDN’T REALLY PRIORITIZE THEM. THEY JUST DUMPED EVERYBODY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIFFERENT GROUPS. AND SO AS A GOVERNOR WE HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO PRIORITIZE IT NOT JUST SAY EVERYBODY AT ONCE. WE LOOKED AT THIS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF HOW MANY LIVES CAN WE SAVE AND HOW THE BEST WAY DO THIS AND WE CAME UP. WITH WHAT? WE THINK THE DATA CLEARLY SHOWS THAT IS THAT AGE IS BY FAR THE BEST PREDICTOR WE HAVE MADE SOME EXCEPTIONS AS WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD, BUT WE REMAIN FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON ON AGE. WE HAVE PICKED A COUPLE OCCUPATIONS THAT ARE VERY FRONT-FACING IN THE SENSE GOING GOING DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC CASE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ARRESTING PEOPLE PHYSICALLY, SO, YOU KNOW, WE’VE TRIED TO BALANCE ALL THE RISK AS WELL AS THE LIABILITY OF THAT PERSON DID IN FACT GET THE COVID-19 BUT IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE DONE THEY HAVE BEEN BASED ON ON RISK OF DEATH. IF YOU GOT THE COVID AND IF WE CAN GET DOWN TO 50. WE CAN GET TO 50 AND WE WILL GET TO 50. AND EVERYBODY ABOVE 50 THAT WANTS TO BE VACCINATED WOULD BE VACCINATED. YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS THAT THAT’S 97 98% OF ALL DEATHS ARE OVER 50, SO IT IS JUST THE BEST INDICATOR AND SOME OF THESE COMORBIDITY. THINGS THAT YOU KNOW PEOPLE VERY RIGHTLY SAY MIKE. WHY DON’T YOU INCLUDE THIS? THIS IS A HIGH RISK WHEN YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE THE YOU’RE INCLUDING MOST OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE’VE ALL SO TAKEN WITH PEOPLE UNDER 50 WHO HAVE SPECIAL MEDICAL. PROBLEMS AND WE’RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO BALANCE THOSE AND COME UP WITH WHAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT APPROACH TO SAVE THE MOST LIVES. GOVERNOR NEXT QUESTION IS THE LAST QUESTION FOR TODAY AND IT BELONGS TO DUSTIN ENSINGER FROM GONGOR NEWS SERVICE. HI GOVERNOR, AS I’M SURE YOU’RE AWARE OF THE SENATE HAS FORMED A SELECT COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF OUR LEGALIZING SPORTS GAMBLING IN OHIO WITH AN EYE TOWARDS POSSIBLY INCLUDING THAT IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT? SPORTS GAMING IS ALREADY IN OHIO. OHIO IS JUST NOT REGULATING IT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS I THINK INEVITABLE. AND IT’S COMING TO OHIO. SO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE WORKING THAT PROCESS AND I WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, BUT SPORTS GAMING IS CERTAINLY ONLY COMING TO OHIO I WANT THANK EVERYBODY EVERYBODY AND THIS IS A SPECIAL WEEK AND I’LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THIS ON. THURSDAY BUT TWO DAYS FROM NOW I BELIEVE IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECISION THAT WE MADE IN REGARD TO THE ARNOLD CLASSIC ALONG WITH MAYOR GINTHER. THAT WAS REALLY AT LEAST FOR ME THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. BECAUSE WE MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE ARNOLD CLASSIC. SO IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN AN ENTIRE YEAR. AND SO WEDNESDAY WILL BE THE ANNIVERSARY. THAT ON THURSDAY. I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, BUT I’LL TALK ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE’RE GOING TO DO TO OBSERVE THIS YEAR ANNIVERSARY. AND TALK ABOUT ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. SHE ON THURSDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUC

Coronavirus latest: 968,874 cases in Ohio; 405,126 in Kentucky; 662,750 in Indiana

Updated: 11:55 AM EST Mar 2, 2021

The COVID-19 outbreak is continuing to change everyday life for millions of Americans. Leaders across the county, including the Tri-State area, are providing daily updates on confirmed cases, deaths and measures taking to curb the spread of the virus. Here, you can get the latest information on the coronavirus in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as well as resources to be prepared and keep your family safe.LATEST CASE NUMBERS: Ohio, 968,974 cases, 17,346 deaths | Kentucky 405,126 cases, 4,652 deaths | Indiana, 662,750 cases, 12,192 deathsEducational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resourcesCORONAVIRUS IN OHIOAs the state prepares for its biggest COVID-19 vaccine shipment yet, Ohio has expanded the state’s eligibility requirements.Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new phase — known as 1C — which includes a handful of new priority groups. Those in this group will be eligible to receive the vaccine on Thursday.Also beginning Thursday, Phase 2 of Ohio’s vaccination program will begin, lowering the age of eligibility to 60 years of age.Those included in 1C include individuals working in child care services, funeral services and law enforcement and corrections officers, the governor said. In addition, anyone with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, bone marrow transplant recipients and those living with ALS are able to be vaccinated in the state of Ohio. All of these individuals are eligible in addition to the previous phases.CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKYGov. Andy Beshear is easing restrictions a bit this week as cases continue on a downward trend in Kentucky.Starting Friday, a slew of businesses, including bars and restaurants, will be able to increase their capacity to 60% — 10% more than before.Here’s the full list:Bars and restaurantsBarbershops/Cosmetology/Hair salonsBowling AlleysIndoor auctionsIndoor educational and cultural activitiesFitness centersFuneral and memorial servicesGovernment officers/agenciesMassage therapyMovie theatersNail salonsOffice-based businessesPlaces of worship (recommendation)RetailTanning salonsTattoo parlorsVehicle and vessel dealershipBeshear said Monday’s report was one of the most optimistic yet. Cases have fallen 72% in seven weeks, and the current positivity rate is now under 5%.Asked when the state could see another bump in capacity, Beshear said,“We’re going to be incremental and careful as we move forward.”He said the next change will depend on continuing trends, the effects of variants and the vaccine supply.CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANAThe Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday that 582 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 662,750 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.A total of 12,192 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 31 from the previous day. Another 431 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. To date, 3,123,029 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,120,195 on Monday. A total of 8,056,112 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.To find testing sites around the state, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.Hoosiers age 55 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.As of today, 1,014,651 first doses of vaccine have been administered in Indiana, and 587,359 individuals are fully vaccinated.Additional locations and appointments are being added as more vaccine becomes available.Symptoms:According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.Emergency warning signs include:Difficulty breathing or shortness of breathPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusion or inability to arouseBluish lips or face*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.This chart from Prospect Pediatrics compares COVID-19 symptoms to the cold and flu:Resources: – Ohio coronavirus hotline: 833-427-5634- Kentucky coronavirus hotline: (800) 722-5725- Indiana general questions can be directed to the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 (317-233-1325 after hours) or e-mail [email protected] for Disease Control and Prevention websiteWhat to do if you think you have it:Officials have urged people to be conscious not to overwhelm the health care system. This graphic will help you decide when it is time to see a physician. Helpful tips and guides: → Here’s what you should do if you already have the coronavirus → Dealing with stress, anxiety during coronavirus outbreak→ These viral social media coronavirus posts are FALSE→ How long should you wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus?→ Guidance for self isolation and home quarantine→ How to clean your car for coronavirus→ A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads→ This map tracks the coronavirus in real time→ How to work from home without losing your sanity

CINCINNATI —

The COVID-19 outbreak is continuing to change everyday life for millions of Americans. Leaders across the county, including the Tri-State area, are providing daily updates on confirmed cases, deaths and measures taking to curb the spread of the virus.

Here, you can get the latest information on the coronavirus in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as well as resources to be prepared and keep your family safe.

LATEST CASE NUMBERS: Ohio, 968,974 cases, 17,346 deaths | Kentucky 405,126 cases, 4,652 deaths | Indiana, 662,750 cases, 12,192 deaths

Educational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resources

CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO

As the state prepares for its biggest COVID-19 vaccine shipment yet, Ohio has expanded the state’s eligibility requirements.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new phase — known as 1C — which includes a handful of new priority groups. Those in this group will be eligible to receive the vaccine on Thursday.

Also beginning Thursday, Phase 2 of Ohio’s vaccination program will begin, lowering the age of eligibility to 60 years of age.

Those included in 1C include individuals working in child care services, funeral services and law enforcement and corrections officers, the governor said. In addition, anyone with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women, bone marrow transplant recipients and those living with ALS are able to be vaccinated in the state of Ohio.

All of these individuals are eligible in addition to the previous phases.

CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKY

Gov. Andy Beshear is easing restrictions a bit this week as cases continue on a downward trend in Kentucky.

Starting Friday, a slew of businesses, including bars and restaurants, will be able to increase their capacity to 60% — 10% more than before.

Here’s the full list:

• Bars and restaurants
• Barbershops/Cosmetology/Hair salons
• Bowling Alleys
• Indoor auctions
• Indoor educational and cultural activities
• Fitness centers
• Funeral and memorial services
• Government officers/agencies
• Massage therapy
• Movie theaters
• Nail salons
• Office-based businesses
• Places of worship (recommendation)
• Retail
• Tanning salons
• Tattoo parlors
• Vehicle and vessel dealership

Beshear said Monday’s report was one of the most optimistic yet. Cases have fallen 72% in seven weeks, and the current positivity rate is now under 5%.

Asked when the state could see another bump in capacity, Beshear said,“We’re going to be incremental and careful as we move forward.”

He said the next change will depend on continuing trends, the effects of variants and the vaccine supply.

CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANA

The Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday that 582 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 662,750 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.

A total of 12,192 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 31 from the previous day. Another 431 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record.

To date, 3,123,029 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,120,195 on Monday. A total of 8,056,112 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.

To find testing sites around the state, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.

Hoosiers age 55 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.

As of today, 1,014,651 first doses of vaccine have been administered in Indiana, and 587,359 individuals are fully vaccinated.

Additional locations and appointments are being added as more vaccine becomes available.

Symptoms:

According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Emergency warning signs include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

This chart from Prospect Pediatrics compares COVID-19 symptoms to the cold and flu:

Resources:

– Ohio coronavirus hotline: 833-427-5634

– Kentucky coronavirus hotline: (800) 722-5725

– Indiana general questions can be directed to the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 (317-233-1325 after hours) or e-mail [email protected].

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

What to do if you think you have it:

Officials have urged people to be conscious not to overwhelm the health care system. This graphic will help you decide when it is time to see a physician.

Helpful tips and guides:

→ Here’s what you should do if you already have the coronavirus

→ Dealing with stress, anxiety during coronavirus outbreak

→ These viral social media coronavirus posts are FALSE

→ How long should you wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus?

→ Guidance for self isolation and home quarantine

→ How to clean your car for coronavirus

→ A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads

→ This map tracks the coronavirus in real time

→ How to work from home without losing your sanity