966,154 cases in Ohio; 402,926 in Kentucky; 660,942 in Indiana

GOV. DEWINE: IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, TWO FATHERS OF MEMBERS OF OUR CABINET HAVE DIED. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE BELOVED FATHERS. MR. WALTER EVANS IS THAT FATHER OF OUR DIRECTOR ALICIA NELSON. HE DIED ON FEBRUARY 12. HE WAS A GIFTED FOOTBALL COACH. HE COACHED FOR MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS. MR. EVANS CHANGED COUNTLESS LIVES. HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS STRONG AND COMPETITIVE SPIRIT AND HIS ABILITY TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. HE WAS THE KING OF PUSH-UPS. HE COULD TELL ANYONE AND DROP -- ANYONE TO DROP AND GIVE HIM 20. HE WOULD HAVE HIS YOUNG DAUGHTERS COME TO THE FIELD TO SHOW THE BOYS THAT THEY WERE STRONGER AND COULD DO MORE PUSH-UPS. HE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF ANYONE WHO CROSSED HIS PATH. WE CONTINUE TO KEEP HIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HIS MOTHER, HIS DAUGHTER, AND HIS LIFE PARTNER IN OUR PRAYERS. JOHNNY MCILROY DIED UNEXPECTEDLY THIS PAST SATURDAY. HE GREW UP AND LIVED IN YOUNGSTOWN AND IS A LEGEND BOTH ON AND OFF THE BASKETBALL COURT. HE PLAYED FOR THE YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS AND HOLDS MANY SCHOOL RECORDS. THERE IS ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT STANDS OUT. IN A GAME AGAINST WAYNE STATE 52 YEARS AGO, HE SCORED AN ASTOUNDING 72 POINTS IN A SINGLE GAME. THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THREE-POINT SHOT’S WERE ALLOWED. IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT DURING THE HISTORIC GAME, HE SCORED 11 MORE POINTS HIMSELF THAN THE ENTIRE TEAM. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME IN 1987. HE WAS A PHENOMENAL BASKET PLAYER AND A FRIEND TO ALL, A WELL RESPECTED MEMBER OF HIS COMMUNITY, WONDERFUL FATHER WHO PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST. WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE OF OVER 50 YEARS, AND WE EXTEND OUR SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY. RECENTLY, SADLY, TWO OF OUR FAMILY FRIENDS ALSO DIED AND I WANT TO MENTION THEM. ON FEBRUARY 12, LARRY SHARRETT DIED AFTER OF BRIEF NON-COVID ILLNESS. HE IS A WONDERFUL PHYSICIAN. VERY GOOD FRIEND TO OUR FAMILY. HE IS PICTURED HERE ON THE FAMILY FARM WITH HIS GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER CORDELIA. MR. SARRETT WAS A HARD-WORKING FARMER. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS WIFE, HIS SONS, DAUGHTER, AND ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES. LASTLY, WE LOST JOHN TREMOR -- TRIMMER. WE HAVE KNOWN JOHN FOR MANY YEARS. HE SPENT HIS CAREER WORKING AGRICULTURE, REAL ESTATE, FARM MANAGEMENT. HE HAS CONTINUED TO DO THAT WORK. JOHN WAS A VERY KIND AND GRACIOUS AND GENEROUS MAN. HE LOVED THE OUTDOORS, LOVED HIS WORK IN AGRICULTURE, WAS ACTIVE IN HIS CHURCH, CHURCH OF CHRIST AND CHRISTIAN UNION, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR HIS GREAT FRIENDSHIP, HIS HELP WITH HANDS TOGETHER. I WILL MISS JOHN VERY MUCH. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, HIS DAUGHTER, SON, AS WELL AS HIS STEPCHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. I WANT TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF JASON LAGORE. HE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY THIS WEEK. JASON WAS AMONG THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO HIGHLAND COUNTY TUESDAY EVENING AFTER TWO TEENAGERS FELL THROUGH THE ICE. A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY MADE IT OUT OF THE WATER BUT WHILE HELPING TO SEARCH FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL, OFFICER LAGORE SUFFERED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. DIVERS FOUND THE TEENAGE GIRL, WHO SADLY DID NOT SURVIVE. THIS IS A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO BOTH FAMILIES. OFFICER LAGORE SERVED 15 YEARS AT THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. HE ACCORDING AIDED THE FIRST -- COORDINATED THE FIRST CANINE ACADEMY. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, TWO YOUNG SONS, AND HIS CANINE PARTNER. I HAVE ORDERED THE FLAGS TO BE LOWERED TO HALF STAFF ON ALL PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IN HIGHLAND COUNTY AS WELL AS THE OHIO STATEHOUSE. I WANT TO TURN TO OUR SCHOOLS. AS WE SPOKE BEFORE, VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO ALL SCHOOL PERSONNEL, PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL, EVERY SCHOOL IN OHIO. THERE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THAT STARTED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY AND WILL AND THIS WEEK --END THIS WEEK. ONE SCHOOL WAS EXTENDED OUT FOR COUPLE OF DAYS. I WANT TO THANK THE TEACHERS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL. I WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS DOING THE VACCINATIONS. BECAUSE OF A DELAY BECAUSE OF THE STORM, SOME OF THESE HAD TO BE RESCHEDULED. EVERYONE WAS VERY FLEXIBLE AND GOT THE JOB DONE. BY SUNDAY NIGHT, VACCINATION WILL BE DONE EXCEPT WITH ONE SCHOOL, THAT WE WILL BE FINISHING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED. MANY OF THESE TEACHERS, SCHOOL PERSONNEL HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR SECOND VACCINATION. OTHERS WILL RECEIVE IT THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. PROVIDING THESE VACCINES TO OUR TEACHERS AND TO OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL IN PERSON BY MARCH 1. THE CHART THAT IS UP HERE SHOWS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE. THIS IS AS OF YESTERDAY. AS OF YESTERDAY, IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THE FULLY REMOTE ARE DOWN TO 10 DISTRICTS, 1.6% OF ALL DISTRICTS, AND THAT IS 6.8% OF THE TOTAL HEADCOUNT OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THESE NUMBERS HAVE TO DO WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUR GOAL OF GETTING EVERYBODY BACK MARCH 1 WILL NOT BE FULLY COMPLETED, BUT WE HAVE MADE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PROGRESS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THESE STUDENTS TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL. I THINK EVERYONE WHO HAS -- I THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS WHO CANNOT MEET THE MARCH 1 DEADLINE. I KNOW SOME OF THEM HAVE MADE EFFORTS TO SPEED THAT UP AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL. WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WE ARE HAPPY -- IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED FOR THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF OHIO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NURSING HOMES AS WELL AS HOSPITALIZATION IN GENERAL. WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE CONTINUING TRENDS WE ARE SEEING AMONG COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OHIO. FEWER AND FEWER OHIOANS ARE IN HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF COVID. TRENDS HOPEFUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF THOSE WHO ARE 80 AND OLDER. IN DECEMBER, 25% OF OUR COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS. THIS NOT -- THIS MONTH, THAT NUMBER HAS DROPPED TO 18%. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT IS THE TOTAL COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE GONE DOWN. NOT ONLY OUR NURSING HOMES A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE, BUT IT IS MUCH, MUCH SMALLER. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA HERE, THIS IS THE NUMBER OF OHIOANS WHO ARE IN OUR HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF COVID. YOU WILL SEE IT CONTINUES TO DROP. WE FELT THAT ONCE WE STARTED VACCINATING NURSING HOMES, VACCINATING THOSE WHO ARE OLDER, WE WOULD SEE A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING INTO OUR HOSPITALS AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN. DOWN TO 1262, THAT NUMBER CONTINUES MOST DAYS TO DROP AND WE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT. WE ARE ALSO SEEING A DECLINE IN COVID CASES AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS. IN MID-DECEMBER, WE HAD 5100 NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WHO HAD COVID IN A GIVEN WEEK. THAT WOULD BE A SNAPSHOT FOR ONE WEEK. LASTLY, A SNAPSHOT, THE NUMBER OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH COVID WAS DOWN TO ABOUT 1000. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS -- IN ONE WEEK IN DECEMBER, WE HAD 2832 NEW CASES IN THAT WEEK. LASTLY, WE HAD 369 NEW CASES. OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT SATISFIED YET. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THOSE NUMBERS DOWN. AS OF LAST WEEK, WE HAVE GIVEN ALMOST 91,000 NURSING HOME RESIDENTS THE FIRST SHOT AND 70,000 OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE VACCINATION PROCESS. THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR SECOND SHOT AS WELL. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THOSE IN OUR NURSING HOMES, WE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE COVID-19 VACCINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. TO CONTINUE AS PEOPLE GO IN NURSING HOMES, NEW RESIDENTS COME IN, CONTINUING TO VACCINATE THEM AND MAKE THAT VACCINE AVAILABLE TO NURSING HOMES. SAME THING WOULD BE TRUE WITH A RESIDENT OR STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS CHANGED THEIR MIND. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THAT TO THEM, AND WE WILL PROVIDE THAT TO THEM. WE ALSO HAVE NEW HIRES. WE WANT TO AFFORD THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY. THIS PROGRAM HAS NOW STARTED AND SOME OF THE FIRST VACCINATIONS ARE OCCURRING THIS WEEK. THAT PROGRAM WILL RAMP UP AND WE ARE HAPPY THIS IS MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES ABOUT SPRING EVENTS THAT ARE COMING UP. LAST HER, WHEN COVID STARTED SPREADING -- LAST YEAR, WHEN COVID STARTED SPREADING IN OHIO, WE ISSUED GUIDANCE. TODAY, WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE NEXT STEPS. WE KNOW THAT THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE CRITICAL AND WE WORRY ABOUT THE VARIANT. THAT IS THE ONE CAVEAT TO WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC. I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC. AS WE SEE FOR A GOOD PART OF OHIO, THE SNOW IS MELTING AND WE ARE FINALLY SEEING THE GROUND. HAVE A LOT OF SIGNS OF SPRING OUT THERE AND A LOT OF THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT IT. -- TO BE HAPPY ABOUT. WHAT ABOUT PROM? WHAT ABOUT GRADUATION? WHAT ABOUT THE COUNTY FAIR? WHAT ABOUT THIS PARADE? THIS FESTIVAL? WE WILL TRY TO GIVE GUIDANCE IN REGARD TO THOSE EVENTS. THE GUIDANCE BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW NOW, FEBRUARY 25, AND AS THE FACTS CHANGE, WE WILL ADJUST . WE HOPE THEY GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THEY WILL. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW THAT, AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE -- BUT WE DON’T KNOW THAT AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST. WE HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND -- THE WHOLE GOAL HERE WILL BE FOR ALL OF US TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE. GET BACK TO WHAT OUR LIFE WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. THERE IS A BRIDGE TO THAT LIFE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE IS REALLY BUILT ON TWO THINGS. ONE IS VACCINATIONS. THE OTHER IS TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS. THERE WILL BE A POINT IN THE FUTURE WHERE WE HAVE HEARD IMMUNITY -- HERD IMMUNITY WHERE WE WILL NOT HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE RESTRICTIONS OFF. WE ARE NOW CROSSING THIS BRIDGE AND I AM HAPPY WE ARE HERE. 1.5 OHIOANS -- 1.5 MILLION OHIOANS HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST SHOT. LET ME TALK ABOUT THE BRIDGE FOR A MOMENT. BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW WAYS TO DO THINGS AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO PULL BACK REGULATIONS. I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS. LET’S TALK FIRST WITH VACCINATIONS. AGAIN, 1.5 MILLION OHIOANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST VACCINATION. A NUMBER OF THOSE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR SECOND. WE ALSO NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATION FROM OHIOANS, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE A SHOT EVEN IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MORE DEMAND THAN THERE HAS BEEN SUPPLY. I AM NOT TELLING YOU THAT IS ENDING. WHAT I AM GOING TO TELL YOU IS THINGS ARE LOOKING A LOT BETTER. NEXT WEEK, WE ALREADY KNOW WE WILL HAVE 310,000 FIRST SHOT DOSES IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE FINISHED THE VACCINATION OF OUR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN VACCINE COMING INTO OHIO FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE WILL BE ADDING MORE SITES, ADDING WALMART -- YOU HAVE TO CHECK, NOT EVERYONE WILL HAVE IT. WE ARE GOING TO ADD A NUMBER OF INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES. WE KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU LIKE TO GO TO YOUR INDEPENDENT PHARMACY, AND THAT IS HOW FRAN AND I GREW UP AND THAT IS WHAT WE STILL DO. WE GO TO THE CEDAR CARE PHARMACY. WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT INDEPENDENT SMALL PHARMACIES. THE PHARMACIES THAT HAVE SIGNED UP WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE NEXT WEEK. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT RIGHT AID -- RITE-AID CONTINUES TO HAVE THE VACCINATION. WE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEND MORE VACCINATIONS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND MORE VACCINATIONS TO TO THE HOSPITALS. THE NEWS TOMORROW AND TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND WILL ALSO BE ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THAT GREENLIGHT GOES ON. WE ARE ASSUMING IT WILL GO ON IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES ON, WE BELIEVE, BASED ON WHAT INFORMATION WE HAVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT THE FIRST WEEK, THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 90,000 DOSES. WE ARE TOLD BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD WEEKS WILL BE LESS. THIS WILL BE A RAMP UP QUICKLY AND THEN DOWN. TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, THE NUMBER I GAVE YOU BEFORE, 310,000, DID NOT INCLUDE JOHNSON & JOHNSON. YOU CANNOT ANNOUNCE THOSE YET AND WE CANNOT ALLOCATE THEM YET, BUT WE PRAY THEY ARE COMING. I WANT TO LOOK AT THE CHART THAT WE HAVE. THIS IS STATEWIDE VACCINATION CHART. IF YOU CAN LOOK ON THERE, THIS IS SOMETHING I LOOK AT EVERY DAY. IT SHOULD BE ASPIRATIONAL FOR ALL OF US. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS. WE WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER MORE SHOTS THIS WEEK. I THINK A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE SHOT. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS CHART, PEOPLE 80 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER , 60%. 75-79, 50 2%. -- 52%. 70-74, 40%. 65-69, 27%. WE NEED TO SEE THESE NUMBERS KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW SOME 60-YEAR-OLDS AND 50-YEAR-OLDS HAVE ASKED US, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE MOVEMENT. WE NEED TO DRIVE THESE NUMBERS UP THAT WE HAVE, THE NUMBER OF OUR PEOPLE OVER 65. 87% OF ALL DEATHS HAVE COME FROM PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65. OUR PATHWAY OUT OF THIS, THE BRIDGE, TWO THINGS -- CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO CONTINUE TO GET VACCINATIONS. IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE OR NEIGHBOR WHO HAS HAD TROUBLE NAVIGATING THE INTERNET OR MAYBE CANNOT GET A RIDE, ANY REASON THEY CANNOT GET A SHOT BUT THEY QUALIFY, IF YOU COULD HELP THEM, DO THAT. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING. WE SPENT SOME TIME THIS MORNING WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE HELP. WE HAVE IDEAS, A LOT OF THE LOCAL MAYORS ARE DOING SOME GREAT THINGS. THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE AS WE TRY TO REACH THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65. PARTICULARLY THOSE HAVING A DIFFICULTY GETTING TRANSPORTATION OR DIFFICULT TIME SCHEDULING. C1 AS WE START BACK, I WANT TO READ A LETTER. I’M NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE LETTER. THIS IS ILLUSTRATIVE OF HOW WE CAN GET BACK AND MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS A LETTER I SENT OUT A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO TO MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS IN OHIO. THE BASIC PRINCIPLES APPLY. WE CAN DO THIS. WE CAN BE BACK AND WATCH BASEBALL THIS YEAR. WE CAN WATCH A LOT OF THINGS, THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO. WE JUST HAVE TO, UNTIL WE GET HERD IMMUNITY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, BE CAREFUL. HERE ARE SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES. WHEN PEOPLE ASK, WHAT CAN WE DO? IF THEY REMEMBER THESE BASIC PRINCIPLES, THESE ARE NOT FOR ME, THESE ARE FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. I WILL JUST READ THEM. THE VIRUS TRANSMITS BEST BY AIRBORNE. TWO, MASKS WORK. THREE, DISTANCE MATTERS. THE FARTHER AWAY YOU ARE FROM SOMEONE’S FACE, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE TAMMY M SOMEBODY -- THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE. TIME AND CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SOMEBODY MATTERS. YOUR BUBBLE IS SMALLER THAN YOU THINK. IF SOMEONE DOES NOT LIVE WITH YOU IN THE SAME HOME, THEY ARE NOT YOUR BUBBLE, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE. NO MATTER HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO THEM. OUTDOORS IS BETTER THAN INDOORS. BIGGER INDOOR AREAS ARE BETTER THAN SMALL INDOOR AREAS. WASHING HANDS OFTEN AND AVOIDING TOUCHING SURFACES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES, AS WE MOVE FORWARD. LET ME NOW TALK SOME SPECIFICS. GET MY NOTES HERE. EXCUSE ME. SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS WILL BE ABLE TO REOPEN WITHIN 25 -- WITH A 25% MAXIMUM INDOOR CAPACITY AND 30% MAXIMUM OUTDOOR CAPACITY, PROVIDED THEY FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS. THIS IS A START, AS I HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE REDS IN THE INDIANS, THEY MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS, IF THE SUMMER AND SPRING GO THE WAY WE THINK IT IS GOING TO GO, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THESE AND MOVE FORWARD. FROM THE MUST CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN, INCLUDE MANDATORY MASK WEARING FOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS, ALLOWING A SPECTATOR PATHWAY THAT ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND SEATING IN PODS OF NO MORE THAN SIX PEOPLE. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THOSE SIX PEOPLE IN THE SAME FAMILY. EACH OF THESE PODS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER PODS BY THE NORMAL SOCIAL DISTANCING OF SIX FEET. GENERAL ADMISSION IS ALLOWED AS LONG AS MASKS ARE WORN AND SIX-WEEK DISTANCING CAN BE MARKED AND MAINTAIN -- SIX FEET DISTANCING CAN BE MARKED AND MAINTAINED. ALTHOUGH SENIORS GRADUATING THIS YEAR, THINKING ABOUT PROM, THINKING ABOUT THEIR GRADUATIONS, THOSE CONTEMPLATING GETTING MARRIED, WE KNOW EVERYONE IS EAGER TO MAKE PLANS. AGAIN, THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN TELL YOU AT THIS POINT. MAY BE IF YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED IN JULY, THINGS WILL BE A LOT BETTER BY THEN. WE THINK THEY WILL BE. THIS WILL BE EXPANDED, WE HOPE IT WILL BE EXPANDED SEVERAL TIMES BY THEM. -- BY THEN. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHAT WE CAN TELL YOU TODAY. AGAIN, MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE CRITICAL TO BEING ABLE TO RESUME THESE ACTIVITIES. UNLESS YOU ARE ACTIVELY EATING, YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP YOUR MASK ON AT PROMS, BANQUET CENTERS, WEDDING RECEPTIONS. EACH VENUE WILL FOLLOW SAFETY GUIDELINES. AND WE WILL BE PUTTING THESE OUT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, THE SPECIFICS OF THIS. I JUST WANTED TO TELL PEOPLE THIS IS COMING. CHANGING THE REGULATIONS IN REGARD TO THEM. SAME WAY WITH FESTIVALS AND PARADES. THEY ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. FESTIVALS CAN HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE GATHERING CLOSELY. WE ARE WORKING WITH LEADERS FROM FAIRS AND FESTIVALS, TALKING TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO COME UP WITH THE BEST AND SAFEST PROTOCOLS FOR FAIRS OR FESTIVALS AND PARADES. THIS IS MOVING QUICKLY. WE WILL HAVE THIS GUIDANCE OUT SHORTLY. SOMEONE MAY ASK ABOUT AMUSEMENT PARKS. THEY ARE OPERATING UNDER THE SAME GUIDELINES. THAT THEY ASK US TO HAVE -- THAT THEY ASKED US TO HAVE LAST YEAR. IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE THOSE, THEY CERTAINLY WILL ASK US ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE AMUSEMENT PARKS YET. WE SUSPECT TO GET CLOSER TO THE SUMMER. MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS WHEN WE PUT THESE ORDERS OUT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE HEADING. I’VE GOT A FEW MORE THINGS. BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT, THEN I WILL COME BACK. >>? MY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOVERNOR. -- >> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOVERNOR. MANY ARE WAITING FOR THIS DAY. I KNOW YOU RECEIVED THE CALLS IN THE TEXTS. -- AND THE TEXTS. I THINK IT IS REASSURING TO EVERYBODY THAT THE PLANNING CAN BEGIN. THAT WE CAN BEGIN DOWN THAT ROAD BACK TO NORMAL. IT IS A SLOW ROAD AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BECAUSE IT IS FEBRUARY 25. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE THINGS WILL BE IN APRIL. BUT WE KNOW THINGS WILL BE, THINGS THAT CAN BEGIN TO BE PLANNED FOR AND HAPPEN, TALKING TO MOMS AND DADS ABOUT GRADUATION AND PROM, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THAT FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM. THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE. BASEBALL GAMES, WEDDINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN PLAN FOR. NOW THEY KNOW THEY CAN. I THINK YOU MADE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THAT THESE EVENTS NEED TO STILL HAPPEN SAFELY. WE ARE NOT THERE YET WITH A VACCINE. THIS IS AN INCENTIVE FOR EVERYONE TO GET A VACCINE. WHEN WE SEE IT, WE SEE THAT WHEN YOU GET THE VACCINE, LIKE SEEN IN NURSING HOMES, AMONG OUR OLDER POPULATION, THAT YOU SEE HOSPITALIZATIONS GO DOWN, CASES GO DOWN. AS THE VACCINE BECOMES MORE AND MORE AVAILABLE, WE NEED PEOPLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DEFEAT THE VIRUS, AND THAT MAKES TO JOURNEY BACK TO NORMAL SHORTER. WHEN WE CAN DO THAT. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STATE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. AS WE STAND HERE ON THE 25TH OF FEBRUARY, THIS IS THE START, BUT IT CAN GET BETTER, AS CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE GROUND GET BETTER. WE CAN MOVE AWAY FROM VARIANCES TO GENERAL GUIDANCE IS FOR EVERYBODY SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, THAT IS THE GOAL, SO PEOPLE KNOW THE RULES AND THEY CAN PLAN. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE POINTS, GOVERNOR. I WILL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU, THEN AT THE END, I DO HAVE SOME GOOD THINGS TO SHARE ABOUT SOME EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR PROMS, GRADUATION, THERE’S A REASON THESE EVENTS CANNOT OCCUR, IF WE FOLLOW BASIC SAFETY PROTOCOLS. WE WILL HAVE FULL DETAILS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I WANTED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THE SAME WAY WE CAN DO FAIRS SAFELY, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. MORE GOOD NEWS -- OUR BEHAVIOR AND HEALTH HOSPITAL VISITATION. BEGINNING MARCH 1, WE WILL LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS FOR OUR STATE’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITALS PER WITH THERE WILL BE SAFETY MEASURES IN TO PROTECT PATIENTS AND STAFF, SUCH AS MASK REQUIREMENTS AND HYGIENE PROTOCOLS AND TIME LIMITS. BUT HAVING IN-PERSON VISITATION WILL CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE IN WELL-BEING AND RECOVERY. THIS CHANGE IS CONSISTENT WITH UPDATES WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE STATE ON VISITATION POLICIES, AS ADMINISTRATORS CEASE LIMITATIONS ON VISITS. YOU ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN OUR HOSPITALS. THEY ARE MAKING CHANGES AS WELL, CERTAINLY ALLOWING MORE VISITATIONS. IF YOU’VE NOT CHECKED LATELY, YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU CAN CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. VETERANS’ HOMES ADMISSIONS. WE ARE OPENING UP ADMISSION. THESE FACILITIES STOPPED ADMITTING NEW RESIDENTS IN MARCH. THAT IS CEASING. ADMISSIONS HAVE OFFICIALLY RESUMED AS OF TODAY. AS WE SPEAK, THE SANDUSKY VETERANS HOME IS WELCOMING A CAREER WAR VETERAN THAT SERVED IN THE ARMY. THE VIETNAM WAR VETERAN -- A VIETNAM VETERAN WILL BE MOVING INTO OUR GEORGETOWN HOME. WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO GET MORE RESIDENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. RESUMING ADMISSIONS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ARE PROGRESSION DOWN THE ROAD TOWARDS RECOVERY. MORE THAN 90% OF VETERANS IN THESE TWO HOMES ACCEPTED THE VACCINE. THEY REALLY SET A GREAT EXAMPLE. OUR VETERANS DID. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE NO POSITIVE CASES AT EITHER LOCATION. AS NEW RESIDENTS ARE ADMITTED, THEY WILL BE TESTED, THEN PLACED IN A NEW WING FOR 14 DAYS BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW LIVING AREA WITH THE REST OF THE VETERAN POPULATION. TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HER HEALTH EQUITY PAGE. TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW SECTION OF THE WEBSITE, HIGHLIGHTING EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE EQUITY IN OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE. TO ASSURE EVERY OHIO AND HAS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO -- OHIOAN HAS THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST COVID-19. EACH ARE -- A FEATURE OF THE HUB, WHERE YOU WILL FIND VARIOUS PRINTS, DIGITAL, AND AUDIO RESOURCES AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. MATERIALS GREETED FOR SPECIFIC GROUPS, INCLUDING MINORITIES WHO SPEAK ENGLISH AS A SECOND LEG WHICH. -- A SECOND LANGUAGE. WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN MAKING SURE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND THIS PANDEMIC. MAKING SURE THAT EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES IN OHIO HAS ACCESS TO THIS VACCINE IS OUR GOAL. WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH CARE EQUITIES AND SAID MINORITIES AND OTHER PUBLISHERS ARE ADVERSELY UNDERSERVED. I KNOW LOCAL COMMITTEES ARE ADDRESSING THIS, WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS. WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, ALL OHIOANS MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE. ALL WHO LIVE IN OHIO MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE VACCINE. NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, THEIR INCOME, ANYTHING ELSE. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TAKING MULTIPLE STEPS TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE EFFORTS WITH OUR FEDERAL HEALTH CENTERS IN OHIO TO MAKEOVER 19 VACCINES MORE EASILY AVAILABLE TO SERVE MINORITY AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS. WE WILL POP UP VACCINATION CLINICS JUST LIKE WE HAD POP-UP TESTING SITES. THEY ARE TARGETING THESE COMMUNITIES BY THE PLACE AIR ACTUALLY BEING LOCATED. HERE’S A VIDEO FROM ONE OF OUR POP UP VACCINATION SITES THAT WAS HELD IN CLEVELAND LAST WEEK. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH, THE CLINIC WAS HELD AT ELIZABETH BAPTIST CHURCH, THE CLINIC WAS HOSTED BY CIRCLE HEALTH SERVICES , WITH HELP FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD. 92% OF VACCINES, THOSE INDIVIDUALS VACCINATED IN THIS CLINIC WERE ADMINISTERED TO MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN IMMUNITY. ACCORDING TO CIRCLE HEALTH, THERE WERE TWO POINT FIVE TIMES MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS VACCINATED AT THIS SINGLE EVENT THEN ALL OF THEIR OTHER VACCINATION CLINICS COMBINED. OUR TEAM TALKED WITH A FEW OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE, WHO TOLD US THEY WERE HAPPY TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES. SO LET’S LISTEN. >> I’M EXCITED TO JUST GET IT OUT OF THE WAY. AND TRY TO, EVEN WITH THE VACCINE, I’M STILL GOING TO MASK UP, DO THE THINGS I KNOW AM SUPPOSED TO DO. >> I JUST DON’T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF GOING OUT WITHOUT SEEING MY GRANDCHILDREN GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THAT IS MY MAIN GOAL. >> I GOT THE VACCINE. IT DOESN’T HURT. YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. >> THE CLINIC WAS ALSO HELD LAST WEEK AT A FAMILY CHURCH IN CLEVELAND. THE CLINIC WAS HOSTED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY PRACTICE AND PROVIDED 201ST DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINE, 85 PERCENT OF THOSE VACCINATED IDENTIFYING AS MEMBERS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY. THIS LOCAL PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTH PROVIDERS AND COMMITTEE ORGANIZATIONS, IS REALLY ARE JUST VITAL IN HELPING ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS. ARE SEVERAL MORE POP UP CLINICS SCHEDULED OVER THE PAST WEEK -- THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE UP UP CLINICS -- THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE POP UP CLINICS SCHEDULED OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. HERE OPEN TO OHIOANS CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE COVID VACCINE. THIS WEEK, WE HELD THE FIRST TWO OHIO VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS. ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT VACCINES. THESE TOWNHOUSE ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE. BUT EACH ONE IS FOCUSED ON ANSWERING ANY CONCERNS FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED GROUPS. WE FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE CONCERNS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO LIVE IN OHIO. ART PANELIST -- OUR PANELISTS WERE JOINED BY MORE THAN 13,000 PEOPLE. IT WILL RE-AIR ON THE OHIO CHANNEL THIS SATURDAY AT 6:00 P.M. AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY AT 2:00 P.M., FEBRUARY 28TH. TUESDAY, WE FOCUSED ON LATINOS AND 14,500 VIEWERS -- AND WE HAD 14,500 VIEWERS. WE HAVE TWO MORE COMING UP. NEXT WEEK. MONDAY, WE WILL THE UNIQUE CONCERNS OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS. TUESDAY, THE VIRTUAL EVENT WILL FOCUS ON CONCERNS SHARED BY THOSE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS. THESE EVENTS START AT 6:30 P.M. YOU CAN WATCH ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S YOUTUBE OR FACEBOOK PAGES. YOU CAN WATCH ON THE WEBPAGE, CORONAVIRUS/OHIO -- CORONAVIRUS.OHO/TOWNHALL. WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE COUNTIES. HANDFUL AT THIS POINT. MORE WHO ARE UNDER WHAT THE CDC CALLS A HIGH INCIDENCE LEVEL. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE. THESE ARE THE TOP ONES, MORGAN AND ATHENS COUNTY. LET’S GO TO THE NEXT ONE. YOU WILL SEE THE SLIDE ALERT MAP. FOR MANY WEEKS, THE ALERT MAP HAS STAYED THE SAME. LITTLE CHANGED. IT IS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. WE HAVE FOUR COUNTIES MOVING TO ORANGE, WHICH BRINGS HER TOTAL TO EIGHT ORANGE COUNTIES. IT SHOWS THE CASE RATES ARE STARTING TO DROP FOR THE COUNTIES, WHICH IS GOOD. LET ME NOW GO TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. IT IS GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR K-12 SCHOOLS, 97.5% OF THEM ARE ALREADY BACK WITH IN PERSON EDUCATION. WE KNOW THE COMMITMENT FOR ALL OF THEM TO BE BACK AND GET THE VACCINE STARTS ON MONDAY. IT’S GREAT NEWS ON THAT TREND. AS WE ARE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN, I ALSO KNOW THAT AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS, WE ARE SEEING THAT THE VIRUS AND TO THE PANDEMIC HAD AN IMPACT ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS EARNING INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS, EARNING COLLEGE DEGREES. AND WE KNOW THAT’S BEEN DISRUPTED. AND WE KNOW IT IS COSTLY. I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT A TOPIC TODAY THAT I OFTEN TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS OUR TECH CRIED PROGRAM -- CRED PROGRAM. EVERY TIME I DO, WE GET AN UPTICK IN ENROLLMENT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT, THEN, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE HER JOB DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. OR JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARM -- ARE LIMITED BECAUSE THEY NEED TO REFRESH THEIR SKILLS. WE HAVE THROUGH THE TECH CRED PROGRAM 1000 PREAPPROVED CREDENTIALS. 1000 DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY, THERE’S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APTITUDE FOR. AVAILABLE IN THAT LIST. IT IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE. UNDER THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN GET UP TO $2000 FOR AN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL THAT WE WILL PAY FOR UPON COMPLETION. COURTESY OF THE TAXPAYERS IN THE STATE OF OHIO. THROUGH 69 DIFFERENT HIGHER EDUCATION IS A DUCHENNE’S. MANY OF THEM, YOU CAN DO ONLINE. -- HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. MANY OF THEM, YOU CAN DO ONLINE. WE SEE CONTINUED RECORDS EVERY MONTH, I’VE ALREADY SEEN THE LUMINARY DATA, AND IT IS A NEW RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENROLLED. IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN THIS OR YOU HAVE A SON OR DAUGHTER WHO MAY BE INTERESTED, GO TO TECHCRED.OHIO.GOV TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN UP SKILL ONE OF YOUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES. I AM SEEING THIS HAPPENING. IN ROBOTIC, YOU HAVE MANUFACTURERS UPSCALING PEOPLE IN ROBOTICS, BOTH FOR PROGRAMMING AND MAINTENANCE. IN CYBERSECURITY, WHO DOESN’T NEED MORE CYBERSECURITY TALENT TODAY? IF YOU DID SOMETHING YOU’RE INTERESTED IN, WE’VE GOT CYBERSECURITY DEGREES. -- IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, WE’VE GOT CYBERSECURITY DEGREES. WE’VE GOT GREEN ENERGY, CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, WE HAVE FAA CERTIFICATION FOR DRONE PILOTS, WHO DO BRIDGE INSPECTIONS AND LAND SURVEYING, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE EVEN HAVE A CERTIFICATION IN SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION. WHAT’S THAT? THAT HELPS TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT OR BUSINESS ONLINE. THESE ARE ALL TECH SKILLS THAT YOU CAN EARN THROUGH PROGRAMS WE HAVE AT TECH CRED. YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT NOT ONE WITH THE TECH SKILLS TO REALLY MAKE IT IN THE WORKPLACE. THIS IS AVAILABLE TO YOU. YOU MAY BE CHANGING CAREERS. YOU MAY BE IN HOSPITALITY, YOU DON’T HAVE A JOB RIGHT NOW BECAUSE -- AND YOU WANT TO UPSCALE. ALL THESE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU THROUGH TECH CRED. IN IMAP, ITS SISTER PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALIZED CREDENTIAL, WE PAY UP TO $3000 TO HELP YOU GET ONE OF THESE SHORT-TERM CREDENTIALS. WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT TAKE YOU YEARS TO GET. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS. THIS IS THE TIMEFRAME IN WHICH YOU CAN DO THIS. IF THAT SUMS OF INTEREST TO YOU, IT IS IMAP. IMAP.DEVELOPMENT.OHIO.GOV. IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN INCLUSIVE RECOVERY, SOME BUSINESSES ARE BOOMING, SOME BUSINESSES CANNOT FIND ENOUGH TALENTS. LET’S HELP YOU GET THE SKILLS THAT YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND TAKE IT VANTAGE OF -- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT PROMISES TO BE A YEAR OF RECOVERY BOTH FROM THE PANDEMIC AND FROM OUR ECONOMIC ROSE. -- WOES. TO STICK ADVANTAGE OF THESE RESOURCES. YOU GET MORE SKILLS, YOUR EARNING POWER AND JOB SECURITY IMPROVES, EMPLOYERS GET SOMEBODY THAT IS MORE TALENTED THAT HELPS THEM COMPETE AGAINST THE REST OF THE WORLD. THINKS, GOVERNOR -- THANKS, GOVERNOR. >> WE ARE READY FOR QUESTIONS. REPORTER: HOPEFULLY YOU AND THE FIRST LADY DID OK AFTER GETTING YOUR SECOND VACCINE DOSE. >> WE DID WELL. NO PROBLEMS. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST ONE FOR US. IT WAS GOOD. REPORTER: NOW THAT THE VACCINATION OF ALL THE TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE, IS THERE ANY THOUGHT TO MAYBE STARTING A SERIES OF VACCINATIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, TEACHERS AT THIS POINT? SO WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE WHO DEAL WITH KIDS ON THE ROAD TO BEING VACCINATED. >> YES, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER GROUPS. WE’VE NOT MADE A FINAL DECISION ON WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THAT AREA YET. AS I HAVE INDICATED BEFORE, WE KNOW THAT THE BIGGEST INDICATOR OF VULNERABILITY AND POSSIBILITY OF DEATH FROM HAVING COVID’S AGE. WE HAVE CARVED A GROUP OUT OF ROUGHLY 200,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE CYSTIC FIBROSIS, WILL HAVE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS -- WHO HAVE OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THEM VACCINATED AND WORKING VERY HARD ON VACCINATING PEOPLE BY AGE. AS WE SAID, 87% OF ALL DEATHS HAVE COME FROM PEOPLE SIX TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. IF WE GO DOWN TO 50, YOU ARE DEALING WITH ABOUT 97% OF THE DEATHS. IT IS THE BEST INDICATOR, IT WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE WHAT WE DO. BUT WE MAY HAVE SOME OTHER VARIATIONS ON THAT. WE WILL STAY FOCUSED ON THE AGE. BUT WE MAY ADD A COUPLE OF GROUPS, AS WELL. WE ARE NOT READY TO ANNOUNCE THAT YET. I WISH WE WERE, BUT WE ARE NOT. WE’VE GOT A FEW MORE WEEKS. I THINK I’M VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE SAW WITH WHAT IS COMING, 300,000 THIS COMING WEEK IS GOOD. IT’S GREAT NEWS. THEN JOHNSON & JOHNSON COMING. THAT MEANS WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FASTER. THAT IS A GREAT THING. BUT WE’VE GOT TO GET VACCINATIONS TO THOSE 65 YEARS AND OLDER. WE’VE GOT TO GET AS MANY OF THEM AS WE WANT VACCINATED THAT SAYS WE NEE VACCINATED -- AS WE NEED VACCINATED. MY MESSAGES, PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED, WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VACCINATION, THEY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65, SIX TO OR OLDER, -- 65 OR OLDER GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT. 300 NEXT WEEK, MAY BE MORE OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON COMES ON NEXT WEEK. MORE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK. >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CHELSEA S. REPORTER: WE JUST WANTED TO CHECK BACK IN ABOUT HOW VACCINES ARE BEING ALLOCATED TO COUNTIES. WE KNOW OUR LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE RECEIVING MORE VACCINES NEXT WEEK THAN THEY HAVE SINCE VACCINATIONS BEGAN. ONE DISTRICT IS RECEIVING 3500 VACCINES, MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS RECEIVING ABOUT 1000 FEWER DOSES. ONE COUNTY IS ONLY RECEIVING 500. HOW ARE ALLOCATIONS BEING DECIDED? ARE THERE ANY UPDATES ON WHEN THE PORTAL CAN LAUNCH? WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE INTERNET? >> LOOK, PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE INTERNET, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IS A PROBLEM. HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME HEALTH DIRECTORS THIS MORNING, ON MONDAY. CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYORS A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO. WE ARE ALL DEDICATED TO TRY TO BREAK THROUGH THAT. WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL N -- SOME ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THINGS WE ARE GOING TO DO. WE’VE GOT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE MORE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY CALL, THAT THEY CAN’T USE IT -- IF THEY CAN’T USE THE INTERNET. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE MORE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS UP THE PHONE AND CALL. -- YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE HEALTH APARTMENTS PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO COME IN. YOU WILL ALSO SEE SOME OTHER PLACES DO THIS. NOW THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT TO SMALLER PHARMACIES, FRANKLY, I THINK MANY OF THESE PHARMACISTS, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACIST WILL PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY, HEY, CHARLIE, DO YOU WANT TO COMMIT? I THINK THAT IS -- COME IN? I THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. PEOPLE WILL HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. LET ME BE CLEAR AGAIN ABOUT ALLOCATION. THIS IS DONE BASED UPON THE AGE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTY OVER THE AGE OF 65 AT THIS POINT. WHEN WE GO TO 60, IT WILL BE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTY OVER 60. WE ARE SENDING IT OUT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, WE ARE SENDING THIS OUT TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE STORY OF WHAT IS OCCURRING IN YOUR COUNTY. IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, WE HAVE CHECKED WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S AROUND THE STATE. IF THEY WANT MORE VACCINE, THEY ARE GETTING MORE VACCINE NEXT WEEK. BUT IT’S NOT JUST A HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. WE HAVE A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CLINICS THAT ARE DOING THINGS, WE HAVE OUR HOSPITALS ARE DOING THINGS. WE HAVE OUR LOCAL PHARMACIES THAT ARE DOING THINGS. SO WE NOW HAVE WELL OVER 700 LOCATIONS. WITH THE ADDITIONAL ONES THAT WE’VE ADDED, I DON’T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT I’M SURE WE ARE WELL OVER 800 NOW. MORE PLACES TO GO, MORE VACCINE, BUT THE ALLOCATION IN YOUR COUNTY IS BASED UPON POPULATION. THERE IS A 20% FACTOR, THERE IS 80% STRIP POPULATION, THERE’S ANOTHER FACTOR BASED ON POVERTY, AND THAT IS WHAT THE CALCULATION IS. WE HAVE A NUMBER THAT WE ALLOCATE CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER. IT IS ROUNDED OFF, PROBABLY, BUT EVERY SINGLE WEEK. WE ARE NOT SHORTING. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE IN URBAN AREAS THINK IT IS ALL GOING TO RURAL AREAS, AND RURAL AREAS THINK IT IS ALL GOING TO THE URBAN AREAS. IT’S NOT. IT’S GOING OUT ON A POPULATION FORMULA. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MOLLY MARTINEZ AT SPECTRUM NEWS. REPORTER: GOOD TO SEE YOU, GOVERNOR. A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU MADE A PLEA FOR MORE SCRUPULOUS DOCUMENTATION WHEN IT CAME TO RACE OF THOSE RECEIVING THE VACCINE. DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS OF HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SINCE YOU MADE THAT A PRIORITY FOR MORE EQUITABLE ROLLOUT? >> I WILL SEE IF I CAN GET THAT. THOSE NUMBERS LOOK TO ME, JUST BY EYEBALLING THEM, LOOK LIKE THEY WERE BETTER. BUT I CAN’T REALLY GIVE YOU THAT QUANTITY. I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND GIVE YOU A REPORT BACK AT THE END OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, OR MAYBE ON TUESDAY. WE WILL LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS AND SEE IF THAT PERCENTAGE HAS GOTTEN BETTER. IT SEEMS TO ME BY LOOKING AT IT THAT IT WAS GETTING BETTER. I WILL GET YOU REAL DATA, NOT JUST WHAT I THINK. REPORTER: NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JOHN LONDON AT WLWT IN CINCINNATI. REPORTER: PEOPLE DOWN HERE IN OUR PORTION OF OHIO ARE BEING ALLOWED TO SIGN UP THROUGH THE KROGER WEBSITE FOR VACCINES AT THE MASS VACCINATION SITE ACROSS THE RIVER IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE CALLED US AND EMAILED US SAYING WHEN THEY SHOW UP FOR THOSE VACCINES, THEY ARE BEING TURNED AWAY AND TOLD THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO REGISTER OUT-OF-STATE. OTHERS HAVE TOLD US THEY SIGNED UP THROUGH KROGER AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING VACCINATED IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA. I’M WONDERING WHAT YOUR TAKE IS ON THAT. WHAT ADVICE HE WOULD HAVE TO THOSE REGISTRANTS. WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE NOW OVERDUE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE WEBSITE. >> THE CLEARINGHOUSE WEBSITE IS IN FACT COMING. LET ME JUST TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. WE’VE NOT SET ANY -- I’M NOT AWARE THAT KENTUCKY HAS COME EITHER -- WE’VE NOT TOLD PEOPLE THAT WE WILL NOT VACCINATE THEM FROM ANOTHER STATE. WE’VE NOT GOTTEN INTO THAT. WE JUST THINK WE ARE PICKING UP PROBABLY SOME INDIANA, KENTUCKY, THEY ARE PICKING UP SOME OF OUR FOLKS. WE’VE NOT DONE THAT. THAT’S NOT BEEN OUR PLAN. WHAT KROGER’S POLICY IS, I CAN’T TELL YOU. THAT I CANNOT SPEAK TO. WHAT YOU MENTION KROGER. I JUST WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING. FRAN GOT ONTO CHECK KROGER, AND I THINK SHE TOLD ME SHE WENT ON OUR ZIP CODE, AND THERE WAS NO SITE AVAILABLE. THERE’S NO PLACE TO REGISTER TODAY. NO SLOTS AVAILABLE. SHE PUT IN THE COLUMBUS ZIP, AND I THINK THERE WERE SIX OR SEVEN PLACES AS OF 10:00 THIS MORNING THAT HAD SOME SLOTS OPEN. I WOULD JUST TELL PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THESE SLOTS. AGAIN, MY PLEA IS, IF YOU’VE GOT A FAMILY MEMBER WHO NEEDS TRANSPORTATION, IF YOU’VE GOT A NEIGHBOR WHO NEEDS TRANSPORTATION, EVEN IF YOU’VE GOT SOMEONE WHO MAYBE DOESN’T USE THE INTERNET, IF YOU CAN HELP THEM USE THE INTERNET, GET ON, THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE NEED TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS. I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO HELP A LOT NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER. THERE WILL STILL BE SOME FRUSTRATION. I’M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY WHO WANTS THE VACCINE WILL GET IT NEXT WEEK, BUT WHAT WE WILL SEE IS AT LEAST 300,000 FIRST SHOTS NEXT WEEK. AGAIN, WE MAY SEE THAT PUSH UP TO 400,000 BY THE END OF THE WEEK. THERE’S OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE. WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS AND HELP PEOPLE GET VACCINATED. BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, THE FASTER WE GET VACCINATED, THE QUICKER WE GET OUT OF THIS. I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THERE BEING A BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE IS THE MASK AND THE VACCINE. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THAT POINT IN OUR LIVES. THE FASTER WE CA VACCINATE, THE MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO TAKE THE VACCINE, THE CLOSER WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT. I’M NOT GOING TO SAY WHAT DATE, BUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE VACCINE IN HERE THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANTED -- THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT IT. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON MORE PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINE. I’M NOT GOING TO FORCE ANYBODY. BUT THROUGH EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING, I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL WANT IT. THANK YOU. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM WCPO AN CINCINNATI. REPORTER: -- IN CINCINNATI. REPORTER: THE PERCENT POSITIVE 80 AND OLDER HAS BEEN HOVERING AROUND [INDISCERNIBLE] THE STATE RUNNING OUT OF 80 PLUS EUROS THAT WANT TO VACCINE? ---YEAR-OLD’S THAT WANT THE VACCINE REPORTER: >> ONCE IT GOT TO ABOUT 58, IT STARTED CREEPING. -- IS THE STATE RUNNING OUT OF 80 PLUS YEAR OLDS THAT WANT THE VACCINE? >> ONCE IT GOT TO ABOUT 58, I STARTED CREEPING. WE ARE WORKING ON IT. I WOULD SAY, FOR ANYBODY, WHO IS A PROVIDER, IF YOU’VE GOT PEOPLE ON YOUR WAITING LIST, OR IF YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN AND YOU’VE GOT THE VACCINE, YOU’RE IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU KNOW PEOPLE 80 AND ABOVE, WE’VE ASKED ALL OUR HOSPITALS, I AM ASKING THEM AGAIN, GO BACK IN YOUR SYSTEM, AND EVERYBODY OVER 80, COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. ASK THEM TO COME IN. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WATCHING THIS IN THE 60’S ARE SAYING, WHY IS HE TALKING ABOUT 80-YEAR-OLD’S? THAT IS THE HIGHEST RATE OF DEATH. WE NEED TO GET MORE OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OVER 80. THE ANSWER IS I DON’T KNOW. I BELIEVE WE HAVE NOT HIT OUR CEILING. WE NEED TO GET UP INTO THE 70’S AT LEAST. WITH 70-YEAR-OLDS, THAT WOULD BE MICHAEL. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT -- MY GOAL. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. THIS IS JUST A GUESS. THE GAS IS SHARED BY SOME OTHER PEOPLE, TOO. WITH THE BAD WEATHER WE HAD, CORRECTLY, I SUPPOSE, SOME 80-YEAR-OLDS ARE THINKING, IT’S NOT REALLY WISE FOR ME TO GO OUT IN THIS ICE AND SNOW. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ON IS LITERALLY FINDING PEOPLE WHO CANNOT LEAVE THEIR HOME, THEN WORKING TO GET THAT VACCINE TAKEN TO THEM. THE CDC HAS LOOSENED THE GUIDANCE, THANK HEAVENS, OF TRANSPORT. IT IS EASIER FOR US TO DO THAT. BUT IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION. IT’S A QUESTION WE’VE BEEN REALLY WORKING ON. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. REPORTER: THERE’S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE. LOOKING AHEAD, OHI -- OHIOANS HAVE A CHOICE. DOES THE STATE PLAN TO TARGET THAT SINGLE-DOSE TO ANY SPECIFIC POPULATION, GIVEN THAT HAS SHOWN MAY BE LESS EFFECTIVE FOR OLDER OHIOANS, FOR EXAMPLE? >> THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. WE ARE REALLY WAITING FOR WHAT IS GOING TO OCCUR TOMORROW. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TUNE IN CAN DO THAT AND WATCH. AS THESE EXPERTS TALK TO EACH OTHER. TRYING TO ANALYZE THAT. WE ARE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE FROM THEM. BUT I WONDER, BRUCE, IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN HERE. THAT IS A QUESTION YOU AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING. JACKIE RAISED A VERY GOOD QUESTION. TO YOU WANT TO TELL THEM WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? >> CERTAINLY. THANK GOVERNOR. THE EARLY NEWS, WE’VE GOT EARLY NEWS WITH PRELIMINARY REVIEW BY THE FDA. IT IS VERY GOOD, ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON. WE ARE LIKELY TO HAVE A SINGLE DOSE VACCINE THAT STORES VERY NICELY WITH REGULAR REFRIGERATION AND A VACCINE THAT IS VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF [INDISCERNIBLE] IT APPEARS TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE, NOW IT APPEARS TO BE 100% EFFECTIVE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS AT PREVENTING THE ENDPOINT THAT REALLY MATTERS, WHICH IS DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION. WHAT IS REALLY ENCOURAGING IS, THAT WAS TRUE NOT JUST HERE IN NORTH AMERICA, WHERE THEY STUDIED IT, BUT THIS IS THE ONE VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN STUDIED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BRAZIL WITH MORE RESISTANT STRAINS WIDELY CIRCULATING. THAT SAME STRONG OUTCOME WAS OBSERVED THERE. HERE IN THE U.S., IT ALSO LOOKS TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE. YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT EARLY INFORMATION, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT ITS EFFICACY AND PEOPLE WITH AUDIBLE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OVER THE AGE OF 60 WITH THAT LESSER DEGREE OF SEVERITY. A WANTON FOR SIZE -- I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, 100% EFFECTIVE FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH. AS THE GOVERNOR NOTED, THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS REVIEWING THE DATA THEMSELVES AS WE SPEAK. THEY WILL BE MEETING TOMORROW. WE WILL GET MUCH CLEARER AND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS VACCINE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS. I WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VIEW ANY INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY AS VERY PRELIMINARY. LET’S WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE ACIP OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADVISING THE FDA COME FORWARD WITH. >> OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION. REPORTER: I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE REOPENING OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, PROMS AND GRADUATIONS. GOING FORWARD WITH NEW REGULATIONS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE FUTURE OF ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WILL LOOK LIKE, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHOOL EVENTS, LIKE PROM? ARE YOU HOPING TO FIND A DELICATE BALANCE SO YOU NOT CRACKING DOWN ON PROMS? >> WELL, WHAT WE HAVE -- FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE SEEN SCHOOLS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS DO A PHENOMENAL JOB THIS YEAR IN CLASS. WHEN WE STARTED THIS, EVERYONE SAID, KINDERGARTEN KIDS CANNOT WEAR MASKS. KIDS HAVE DONE IT. THEY’VE DONE IT PHENOMENALLY WELL. THIS IS NOT MAY BE YOUR DREAM OF THE PROM, OF PEOPLE HAVING MASKS ON, BUT YOU CAN STILL HAVE A PROM. YOU CAN STILL HAVE GRADUATION. WE WANT TO SIGNAL TO PEOPLE TODAY, YOU CAN START PLANNING. WE CAN DO THIS. BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT GOES ON THAT WE GET MORE OHIOANS VACCINATED, THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK BETTER. THE BRIDGE IS THE MASK AND THE VACCINATION. WE’VE GOT TO KEEP THAT MASK ON UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE’VE REACHED HER IMMUNITY IN THE STATE. -- HERD IMMUNITY IN THE STATE AND WE HAVE CRUSHED THIS. I’M OPTIMISTIC. I FULLY BELIEVE THAT SCHOOLS CAN PUT ON THESE EVENTS AND PUT ON THESE EVENTS SAFELY, BY SIMPLY FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOLS AND BASIC PROTOCOLS THAT WE PUT OUT. THEY ARE BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLES THAT I READ. WHEN I STARTED OFF MY LETTER TO THE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS, THESE ARE BASIC PRINT SUPPOSE, THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WORKS, WE CAN DO THIS. OPTIMISTIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM WEWS IN CLEVELAND. REPORTER: THE CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCED IT IS WHEN TO PUSH BACK ITS HYBRID SCHEDULE. BECAUSE IT IS ANY PHASE OF SCHEDULE, THAT MEANS MOST OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE GOING BACK, OR HAVE THE CHANCE TO GO BACK HYBRID UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT? ARE THERE ANY STEPS THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO TAKE? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED POTENTIALLY TAKING VACCINES AWAY, STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE PAST. >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE VACCINES AWAY. WE’VE MET A COMMITMENT -- WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO TEACHERS, OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL, THAT WE WOULD GIVE A SECOND SHOT. SO WE ARE GOING TO GIVE A SECOND SHOT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO BACK ON OUR COMMITMENT. I AM DISAPPOINTED BY THAT. I’M NOT GOING TO BELABOR THE DISCUSSION. WE’VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, I LOOK AT A CUP OR A GLASS AT ABOUT 95% FULL. 95% FULL IS PRETTY GOOD. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE WE WERE IN DECEMBER, WHEN WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR KIDS, 40%, 42% NOT IN SCHOOL THAT’LL. -- NOT IN SCHOOL AT ALL. I AM HAPPY WHERE WE ARE. I WISH IT WAS 100%. IT’S NOT. BUT IT IS PRETTY DARN GOOD. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM WSYX IN COLUMBUS. REPORTER [NO AUDIO] >>, MUST BE HAVING TROUBLE. -- TOM MUST BE HAVING TROUBLE. REPORTER: I AM UNMETERED NOW. -- UNMUTED NOW. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT SPORTS AND THE CROWDS. WHAT IF THINGS DO NOT GO THAT DIRECTION, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT GATHERING CROWDS LIKE THIS COULD MAKE CASES GO UP? DO YOU HAVE A THRESHOLD AT WHICH YOU MIGHT RESCIND THESE NUMBERS OF CROWDS? PONY 5% FOR INDOORS AND 30% FOR OUTDOORS -- 25% FOR INDOORS AND 30% FOR OUTDOORS. WE ARE GOING TO WATCH IT. WE ARE GOING TO WATCH THE EARLY SIGNS. THE DEATHS ARE THE LAST INDICATOR. THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE A LATER INDICATOR. WE MEASURE OTHER THINGS. WE MEASURE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, WE MEASURE PEOPLE GOING INTO THEIR DOCTOR WITH COVID SYMPTOMS. THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE ARE GOING TO WATCH. AND WE ARE GOING TO WEIGH EVERYTHING EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY. WE THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WRITE DOWN THAT PATH. PART OF IT IS GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW FAST WE GET THE VACCINATION. WITH THIS VARI

Coronavirus latest: 966,154 cases in Ohio; 402,926 in Kentucky; 660,942 in Indiana

Updated: 2:02 PM EST Feb 27, 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, 966,154 cases, 17,237 deaths | Kentucky 402,926 cases, 4,600 deaths | Indiana, 660,942 cases, 12,125 deathsEducational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resourcesCORONAVIRUS IN OHIOIt's official. Gov. Mike DeWine has given the green light for fans to return to the state's sporting arenas and other entertainment facilities.Speaking during his Thursday afternoon press briefing, the governor said that sporting and entertainment venues will be able to reopen this spring with capacity limits.That includes a 25% maximum indoor capacity and a 30% maximum outdoor capacity, provided they follow established precautions.Among those precautions include mandatory masks for spectators and employees; spectator pathways allowing for social distancing; and pods of seating with no more than six people per pod, separated by at least six feet."This is a start," the governor said. "If the situation improves in spring and summer, this could be expanded."General admission seating – such as lawns, standing room and infields -- will be allowed as long as masks are worn, and six-foot distancing can be marked and maintained, the governor said..The easing of the state's restrictions paves was for fans to return to Reds and FC Cincinnati games, as well as concert venues.This is a plan the governor has been teasing since Monday.However, one big question mark is still lingering, the governor said, which could hinder plans to allow fans back at games.“We have to caution though: We caution that the variant is out there in Ohio. And our best medical information is that (the variant) could become dominant by the latter part of March. We don’t really know what’s going to happen after that,” DeWine said.Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is April 1, and most minor league teams start May 4. The governor said the same attendance policies apply to Major League Soccer and FC Cincinnati.Officials with the Reds released a statement Thursday in wake of the governor’s announcement, saying “We are excited to welcome fans back to the ballpark to kick off the season on Opening Day. We thank Governor DeWine and the officials with the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for their guidance and cooperation through the entire process.”CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKYGov. Andy Beshear visited Louisville Friday and urged Black Kentuckians to get the COVID-19 vaccine.Beshear joined NAACP leaders to speak about the hesitancy among some in the Black community with getting the shot. The governor visited the NAACP's west Louisville office. Several residents received the vaccine at the office from Norton Healthcare, according to a release from the governor's office.The governor's office said Black Kentuckians only account for about 4.6% of those in the state who have been vaccinated.“African-Americans are infected with COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans and are twice as likely to die from the virus,” said Raoul Cunningham, president of the NAACP Louisville chapter.Beshear said this week that the state now has about 410 vaccine centers.Officials reported 1,180 new cases of the virus on Friday. There were 30 newly reported deaths, for a total of 4,600 since the pandemic reached Kentucky about a year ago.CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANAThe Indiana Department of Health announced Saturday that 897 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 660,942 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day's dashboard.A total of 12,125 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 27 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, 3,112,174 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,106,426 on Friday. A total of 7,989,954 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.Hoosiers age 60 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. As of today, 981,769 Hoosiers have received a first dose of vaccine, and 552,241 are fully vaccinated.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, 966,154 cases, 17,237 deaths | Kentucky 402,926 cases, 4,600 deaths | Indiana, 660,942 cases, 12,125 deaths

Educational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resources

CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO

It's official. Gov. Mike DeWine has given the green light for fans to return to the state's sporting arenas and other entertainment facilities.

Speaking during his Thursday afternoon press briefing, the governor said that sporting and entertainment venues will be able to reopen this spring with capacity limits.

That includes a 25% maximum indoor capacity and a 30% maximum outdoor capacity, provided they follow established precautions.

Among those precautions include mandatory masks for spectators and employees; spectator pathways allowing for social distancing; and pods of seating with no more than six people per pod, separated by at least six feet.

"This is a start," the governor said. "If the situation improves in spring and summer, this could be expanded."

General admission seating – such as lawns, standing room and infields -- will be allowed as long as masks are worn, and six-foot distancing can be marked and maintained, the governor said..

The easing of the state's restrictions paves was for fans to return to Reds and FC Cincinnati games, as well as concert venues.

This is a plan the governor has been teasing since Monday.

However, one big question mark is still lingering, the governor said, which could hinder plans to allow fans back at games.

“We have to caution though: We caution that the variant is out there in Ohio. And our best medical information is that (the variant) could become dominant by the latter part of March. We don’t really know what’s going to happen after that,” DeWine said.

Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is April 1, and most minor league teams start May 4. The governor said the same attendance policies apply to Major League Soccer and FC Cincinnati.

Officials with the Reds released a statement Thursday in wake of the governor’s announcement, saying “We are excited to welcome fans back to the ballpark to kick off the season on Opening Day. We thank Governor DeWine and the officials with the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for their guidance and cooperation through the entire process.”

CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKY

Gov. Andy Beshear visited Louisville Friday and urged Black Kentuckians to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Beshear joined NAACP leaders to speak about the hesitancy among some in the Black community with getting the shot. The governor visited the NAACP's west Louisville office. Several residents received the vaccine at the office from Norton Healthcare, according to a release from the governor's office.

The governor's office said Black Kentuckians only account for about 4.6% of those in the state who have been vaccinated.

“African-Americans are infected with COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans and are twice as likely to die from the virus,” said Raoul Cunningham, president of the NAACP Louisville chapter.

Beshear said this week that the state now has about 410 vaccine centers.

Officials reported 1,180 new cases of the virus on Friday. There were 30 newly reported deaths, for a total of 4,600 since the pandemic reached Kentucky about a year ago.

CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANA

The Indiana Department of Health announced Saturday that 897 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories.

That brings to 660,942 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day's dashboard.

A total of 12,125 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 27 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, 3,112,174 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,106,426 on Friday. A total of 7,989,954 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.

Hoosiers age 60 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.

As of today, 981,769 Hoosiers have received a first dose of vaccine, and 552,241 are fully vaccinated.

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