859,841 cases in Ohio; 341,829 in Kentucky; 611,039 in Indiana

BREAK INTO PROGRAMMING. OHIO GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE WILL ADDRESS THE CORONAVIRUS. CASES HAVE MOVED YOU WERE HERE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. >> TODAYLY HOFFMAN, THE COMMERCIAL STANDARDS UNIT WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AROUND TWO WEEKS AGO, JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. TROOPER HUFFMAN WAS DESCRIBED BY HIS FELLOW MEMBERS IN PATROL, AND I QUOTE, AS A ROCK FOR EVERYONE TO LEAN ON AND SOMEONE WHO WOULD, QUOTE, DROP WHAT HE WAS DOING TO HELP HIS CO-WORKERS, FRIENDS, FAMILY AND TROOPER HUFFMAN WAS A U.S. ARMY VETERAN. HE SERVED WITH THE HIGHWAY FOR 23 YEARS. FRAN AND I EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY, HIS THREE CHILDREN, CODY, TAYLOR AND DILLON, TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND FELLOW TROOPERS AT THE OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. THIS WEEK, OHIOANS AGED 80 AND OLDER CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE FIRST DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINES. NEXT WEEK BEGINNING ON JANUARY 25, OHIOANS AGED 75 AND OLDER WILL JOIN THIS ELIGIBLE GROUP. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHEN A NEW AGE GROUP BEGINS, THE PREVIOUS GROUP CONTINUES ON. SO BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, PEOPLE 75 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE. AS WE ALL KNOW, IT IS GOING TO TAKE A NUMBER OF WEEKS TO DISTRIBUTE ENOUGH VACCINES FOR EACH PARTICULAR GROUP. STILL BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME THAT A THE YOUNGER GROUP BECOMESLE GINOBILI -- BECOMES ELIGIBLE. OUR INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REMAINS BASICALLY THE SAME. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEXT WEEK AS FAR AS VACCINE IS CONCERNED. LET ME NOW GO, AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING VACCINATIONED -- VACCINATED TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO AKRON. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? >> GOOD TO SEE YOU. I AM GOING TO SEE IF I CAN GET THE NAMES RIGHT. MISS HILL, ARE YOU HERE? >> MISS HILL, HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> I AM DOING VERY WELL, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. MISS WALKER, IS THAT YOU THERE? >> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. WHO IS GOING TO GIVE THE SHOTS? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING IT. HOW ARE THINGS GOIN >> WELL, VERY GOOD. GIVE THE SHOTS. THAT IS GREA >> THAT'S ALL. WE ARE ALL DONE. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? OK? >> VERY WELL, YES. THANK YO >> ALL RIGHT. I WONDER IF I COULD ASK BOTH OF YOU, MAYBE START WITH MISS HILL , WHY YOU DECIDED TO GET THE VACCINE? >> I HAVE NEVER TURNED DOWN A SHOT. I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THAT IS THE TRUTH. >> GOOD. MISS WALKER, HOW ABOUT YOU? >> YES. I WANTED TO GET THE SHOT TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH. I HEAR YOU ALL ARE MAYBE DOING SOME DRIVE-THRU , IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES, WE ARE. WE ARE DOING THE MONITORING. >> VERY GOOD. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH WHERE 81-YEAR-OLD BEVERLEY NOIR US IS GOING TO BE VACCINATED BY THE CINCINNATI PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA SCOTT. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? WE ARE GREAT. >> VERY GOOD. MISS NOIR US, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? >> ARE YOU ANXIOUS US TO GET THE SHOT? >> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO WATCH YOU ON TV GET THE SHOT THEN >> YES. I AM FINE. >> WELL, THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH. NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE, FURTHER SOUTH, WHERE NURSE DEBBIE FISH SER PREPARING TO VACCINATE 4-YEAR-OLD ANN FREEMAN. MISS FREEMAN, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? >> TELL US, NURSE, FISHER, WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BACKGROUND? WE SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY BACK THERE? >> WE HAVE A CLINIC GOING ON TODAY. WE ARE IN WHAT USED TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS NOW THE SOUTH POINT BOARD OFFICE, AND WE HAVE A CLINIC FOR 80-YEAR-OLDS AND UP. ANN AGREED TO COME AND BE WITH ME. >> WE ARE DOING WELL. WE GAVE 400 YESTERDAY. I AM NOT QUITE SURE HOW MANY WE HAVE GIVEN TODAY, BUT WE HAVE GIVEN A LOT. >> GREAT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE GEOGRAPHY, WE ARE POINT OF OHIO? >> WE ARE, WHERE OHIO COMES TO THE LITTLE POINT, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT. >> WELL IF YOU GUYS ARE READY, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND WATCH YOU DO IT. >> ALL RIGHT. WELL, MISS FREEMAN, ARE YOU DOING OK THERE? >> YES. I AM DOING REAL GOOD. >> HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GET YOUR VACCINATION? >> WELL, I WORK WITH CHILDREN. AND TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE FOR MYSELF AND THEM. >> THAT IS A GREAT IDEA. GREAT. THANKS FOR LETTING US WATCH YOU BOTH TODAY. WE APPRECIATE IT. SAY HI TO EVERYBODY IN SOUTH POINT. >> THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. TODAY WE ARE ANNOUNCING A NEW PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING ABBOTT AND EMED WITH THE GOAL TO BRING RAPID RELIABLE TESTING INTO THE HOME WHERE THE RESULT IS DELIVERED IN MINUTES. WE HAVE AGREED, THE STATE OF OHIO HAS AGREED TO PURCHASE AT LEAST TWO MILLION AT-HOME BINAY NOW COVID RAPID ANT GENERAL TESTS. -- ANTI-GENERAL. TO PROVIDE TELEHEALTH SERVICES, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO USES ONE OF THESE TESTS CAN BE GUIDED BY A PROCTOR AND WILL GET THE RESULTS IN MINUTES WITHOUT HAVING TO VISIT A TESTING LOCATION. DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WE USE TESTING AS A TOOL TO VIED GUY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SICK, WHO HAVE COVID, WE HAVE USED IT TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID, AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE USED IT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES OPEN. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR RAPID TESTS TO BE BROADLY AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT PARTNERS HAVE TOLD US, IF WE COULD GET SOME MORE OF THESE RAPID TESTS SO THAT WE COULD DECIDE HOW TO DEPLOY THEM IN THIS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. IF WE GET AN OUTBREAK IN A FACTORY, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE IN VERY, VERY QUICKLY. SO WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WE ARE MAKING THESE AVAILABLE TO OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE. SO THIS AGREEMENT IS MAKING THAT A REALITY, ALLOWING COMMUNITIES TO MORE AGGRESSIVELY TEST FOR COVID-19 THAN ANY OTHER TIME DURING THIS PANDEMIC. AS WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE VACCINE, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE TESTING. TOOL. IT IS GOING TO GIVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES A NEW TOOL. THIS IS A $50 MILLION INVESTMENT. WE HAVE USED CARES ACT DOLLARS, AND THIS WILL MAKE TESTING MORE BROADLY AVAILABLE. WE HAVE GIVEN LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SOME BROAD GUIDELINES. WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO MAKE THE TESTS WIDELY AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BUT WE HAVE GIVEN THEM FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM THE ABILITY TO USE THEM FOR COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC PRIORITIES. WE HAVE SUGGESTED, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT USE THEM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TYPE OF TESTING. WE HAVE HEARD THAT SOME COMMUNITIES WILL USE THEM IN THAT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, BY USING THESE, THE TESTING WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER WHENEVER AND WHEREVER IT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED. SO THIS IS FULFILLING A NEED AND A REQUEST THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FOR A LONG TIME. WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. SO I WANT TO BRING IN BY ZOOM DR. PATRICE HARRIS. FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE AND C.E.O. OF E-MEDICAL. DOCTOR, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON HERE. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU PLAY WHEN ONE OF OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DEPLOYS THIS AND SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY USING IT? HOW DO YOU ALL COME IN? >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. >> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIME OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AS YOU NOTE, I HAD THE WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION EARLY ON DURING MY PANDEMIC. OF COURSE MY ROLE HERE TODAY IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM MY LEADERSHIP AT THE A.M.A., BUT WE ARE SO PROUD. E-MED IS SO PROUD TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND THE STATE OF OHIO. EMED IS A DIGITAL HEALTH COMPANY. THE PLATFORM WE PROVIDE IS FOR SCREENED LIVE, VIRTUAL GUIDANCE FOR THESE COVID-19 TESTS AT HOME, ENTIRELY AT HOME WITH THE RESULTS IN 15 MINUTES. THROUGH THIS VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP, WE WILL BE ABLE TO, AS YOU KNOW, BRING RELIABLE, RAPID COVID TESTS TO OHIO. WE BELIEVE THIS IS A MODEL FOR INNOVATIVE TESTING, A GREAT PLACE, A TOOL IN THE TOOL BIXLER TO MITIGATE SPREAD AND GET THE STATE OF OHIO BACK TO SCHOOL, WORK AND PLAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> SO IS THIS CONTACT USUALLY DONE BY SKYPE? HOW IS IT NORMALLY DONE? >> IT WILL BE THROUGH OUR PLATFORM, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO SKYPE. THE END USER WILL LOG ON TO OUR PLATFORM AND BE CONNECTED TO ONE OF OUR LIVE GUIDES, AND THE PROCESS. GOVERNOR, I AM A PSYCHIATRIST BY TRAINING, AND I KNOW THAT FOLKS ARE ANXIOUS, AND I KNOW TOLD ME, BOTH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND PARENTS -- THAT IF WE DO THESE TESTS AT HOME, THEY ARE PERFECTLY WILLING AND GLAD TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO TO TAKE THE TEST. BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PERFORMING THE TEST CORRECTLY. SO ONCE THEY LOG ON, THEY WILL BE CONNECTED WITH ONE OF OUR LIVE GUIDES, WHO WILL GUIDE THE BEGINNING TO THE END, AND AVAILABLE IN 15 MINUTES. >> WELL, THAT IS GREAT, DOCTOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING ON TODAY. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU. >> WELL, I JUST NOTE, AS I THINK WE ALL NOTE -- AND BY THE WAY, MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE STATE TROOPER THAT YOU LOST. YESTERDAY WE LOST AGAIN OVER 4,000 LIVES, AND WE HAVE LOST OVER 400,000 LIVES. NOW IS THE TIME TO GO BIG AND GO BOLD, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS DOING. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TESTS IN THE HANDS OF FOLKS AROUND THIS COUNTRY SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE. >> WELL, WE APPRECIATE IT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THIS WORKS, AND WE ARE CONFIDENT IT IS GOING TO WORK WELL. DOCTOR, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. >> THANK YOU. LET'S GO TO OUR DATA AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE GOT TODAY. THE NUMBERS FOR TODAY A LITTLE BEEN. 7,271 CASES. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT HAS BEEN MOVING. IT ACTUALLY HAD BEEN MOVING DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, AND NOW IT HAS STARTED TO TREND A LITTLE BIT BACK UP. OUR DEATHS, SADLY, 109 IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, VERSUS 74 AVERAGE THAT WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING NOW FOR 21 DAYS. HOSPITALIZATIONS UP A LITTLE BIT, AND I.C.U. ADMISSIONS UP A LET'S LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE OUR NUMBERS. AND AGAIN, THIS IS HOW YOU LOOK TO SEE HOW MUCH SPREAD YOU HAVE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. NOT A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, BUT LITERALLY THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AND WE ARE STARTING -- SOME OF THE NUMBERS, THE WORST COUNTIES ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN THAT IS A GOOD THING. I'M LOOKING DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM, AND HOLMES COUNTY, AGAIN, IT IS A LITTLE BIT LOWER, BUT IT IS STILL A LITTLE OVER TWO TIMES WHAT THE C.D.C. SAYS IS A HIGH INCIDENTS. THESE NUMBERS HAVE COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY ARE STILL HISTORICALLY VERY HIGH. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS OUR HEALTH ADVISORY SYSTEM, OUR ALERT MAP. AS WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY, OUR CASES SEEM TO BE FLATTENING OUT. WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND STILL MUCH HIGHER THAN WHERE WE HAVE BEEN MOST OF THIS PANDEMIC. THEIR STATUS WORSEN. GOOD NEWS. WE HAVE 83 COUNTIES IN RED, FOUR COUNCILS AT ORANGE AND ONE COUNTY STILL AT PURPLE. LET'S SHIFT NOW TO THE KEY MEASURES MAP, AND WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THE FIRST MAP ON THE LEFT SHOWS HOW COUNTIES ARE DOING IN CASES PER POPULATION, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE DOWN SLIGHTLY FOR THE STATE-WIDE AVERAGE. WE ARE AVERAGING STATEWIDE, 620 CASES PER 1,000. THE STATE AVERAGE IS SIX TIMES WHAT THE C.D.C. SAYS IS A HIGH INS DENIALS, BUT STILL, IT IS LAST WEEK WAS 740. IS STILL VERY, VERY HIGH. LOOKING AT IT ANOTHER WAY, OUT ONE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS. SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY, IT IS A HIGH, HIGH INCIDENCE LEVEL. AS FAR AS OUR. C.U., WE ARE AT ONE OUT OF FOUR PATIENTS NOW THAT HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE BETTER, BUT ONE OUT OF FOUR PATIENTS IN A.C.U. IN OHIO I WANT TO ADD, BEFORE WE GO TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, ASK OUR DATA TEAM TO PULL UP INFORMATION FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. AGO, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN WERE IN SCHOOL IN PERSON, HOW MANY REMOTE, HOW MANY HYBRID. AT THAT TIME, THE LAST TIME WE THIRD, A THIRD, AND A THIRD. SO WE HAD A THIRD TOTALLY IN PERSON PART OF THE TIME, AND A THIRD THAT WERE TOTALLY REMOTE. ANTICIPATED BEGINNING OF THE VACCINATION OF THOSE SCHOOL PERSONNEL, TEACHERS AND OTHERS WHO WANT A TEST, AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING THAT ON FEBRUARY 1. NOT EVERY SCHOOL WILL START FEBRUARY 1, BUT WE WILL START THIS PROCESS ON FEBRUARY 1. AS WE DO THAT, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A SHIFT, WHICH IS GOOD. STUDENT POPULATION, THESE NUMBERS ARE STUDENT POPULATION, WE HAVE NOW 42% AND A AND A HALF OF OUR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THAT HAS GONE UP ALMOST 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS. WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. HYBRIDS ABOUT THE SAME, ABOUT A THIRD, AND THE FULLY REMOTE HAS GONE DOWN. WE HAVE SEEN THE FULLY REMOTE GO DOWN TO 23.8, OUR IN PERSON FIVE DAYS A WEEK HAS GONE UP TO 42.5%. SO JUST A LITTLE BENCHMARK AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING ALL OF OUR KIDS -- OUR GOAL IS TO GET ALL OF OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL BY MARCH 1. THAT REMAINS OUR GOAL. LET ME GO NOW TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. >> THANKS, GOVERNOR. I WANT TO START OUT TODAY WITH SOME THANK YOUS. WE HAVE WELLED ON THE OHIO BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC TO HELP US WITH A VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING PPE. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO RECEIVE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF PPE. WE GOT ANOTHER LARGE DONATION OF 250,000 DISPOSABLE MASKS THIS WEEK FROM HOME DEPOT. WE WANT TO THANK THEM. IN DIGGS, WE HAD A DONATION OF 800 ADULT MASKS AND 201,000 YOUTH MASKS FROM THE ALL FAMILY FOUNDATION. TWO MILLION ADULT MASKS AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FROM GENERAL MOTORS AND FIAT-CHRYSLER. THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND HELPED SUPPORT COMPANIES LIKE APPLE, LOWE'S, MEYER AND OTHERS HAVE DONATED FACE MASKS AND SHIELDS. AS WELL AS ANHEUSER, A GREAT OHIO HEADQUARTERSED COMPANY, PROSPECT TER AND GAMBLE AS WELL. THEY HAVE DONATED HAND SANITIZER. TOMORROW I AM GOING TO GO SEE ONE OF THOSE PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN JACKSON, OHIO, WHERE THEY MAKE MEDICAL GRADE MASKS. THIS IS PART OF OUR NEW PPE PRODUCTION THAT WE ARE RESHORING TO AMERICA AND TO OHIO, CREATING AN INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW I WANT TO TURN TO ANSWERING A QUESTION THAT WE RECEIVED THE OTHER DAY REGARDING THE PUBLIC UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM. OUR UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THE NUMBER OF FRAUDULENT CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED. I EMPHASIZE ATTEMPTED, DURING THERE WERE 44,000 TRADITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SO FAR OUT OF A TOTAL 1.7 MILLION THAT WERE FLAGGED FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD. BUT IN THE P.U.A., THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, THE ONE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED TO FUND PEOPLE WHO WERE 1099 OR OTHERWISE INELIGIBLE FOR TRADITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE WERE 1.4 MILLION CLAIMS, BUT 796 THOUSAND OF THOSE HAVE HAD TO BE FLAGGED FOR POTENTIAL FRAUD. THESE -- AND SO THERE IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HE DON'T PAY OUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER ESTABLISHED A NEW PROCESS WHICH HAS IMPROVED THAT, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING TO CONTINUE TO REFINE HOW THAT OCCURS. INFORMATION, THOUGH, IF YOU GOT A NOTICE THAT SOMEBODY HAD FILED SOMETHING IN YOUR NAME, LIKE I DID, YOU NEED TO GO TO UNEMPLOYMENT .OHIO .GOV. WHEN YOU GO THERE, YOU WILL SEE A TAB THAT WILL ASK YOU TO REPORT YOUR IDENTITY THEFT, AND IT SAYS REPORT IDENTITY THEFT AND SAYS IDENTITY THEFT, WHAT TO DO. SO THERE ARE FULL INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS BEEN FILED SOME YOUR NAME. IF THEY FILED IN YOUR NAME, THEY PROBABLY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY THAT MAY IMPACT OTHER ASPECTSES OF LIFE. YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROTECTED. ALL OF THIS, AS I MENTIONED, HAS BEEN MADE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT OVER TIME AS THE FOLKS AT THAT SYSTEM TRY TO UPDATE THEIR SYSTEM, WHICH WON'T BE DONE UNTIL 2022 AS I UNDERSTAND. BUT ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE, WE DID IMPLEMENT -- WELL, EARLY ON IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, I SHOULD SAY, OUR DUPLICATE PAYMENT TOOL WHERE WE TRACK THIS NOW INSIDE STATE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THERE IN OUR MOST RECENT REPORT, WE FOUND 72 MORE OF THEM, 146,000 WORTH OF CLAIMS THAT WE ARE REFUNDING NOW, AND WE HAVE SAVED OHIOANS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION OUT OF THAT. I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE I WANT TALKED ABOUT BE SIBERIA SECURITY THE OTHER -- OUR CYBERSECURITY THE OTHER DAY, OUR TECHNOLOGY AAFFECTS HOW WE ARE TO DO. THERE ARE MORE CYBERTHREATS AND CYBERCRIMES OUT THERE. TO TRY TO PROTECT AGAINST IT. GOVERNOR, BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. I THINK WE ARE READY FOR QUESTION >> YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM JEFF AT ABC 6. >> YOU HAVE A CURFEW AT 10:00 P.M. THAT RUNS OUT ON THE 23RD THAT IS COMING UP IN A FEW DOES IT STAY OR GO, AND WHY? >> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO STAY. YOU ARE SEEING WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE. WE A DOWNTICK FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT WE ARE STILL AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT ON. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO MANAGE THIS. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF IT. TO TAKE IT MAYBE TO 11:00, BUT WE ARE NOT THERE. AS YOU HEARD FROM THE DOCTOR THIS NEW STRAIN, AND THAT IS A CONCERN, THAT THAT WILL BECOME MORE DOMINANT IN OHIO AND BECOME MORE CONTAGIOUS. WE ARE STILL IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE LETTING PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT LET THIS GET OUT OF CONTROL. SO IT IS A MANAGEMENT QUESTION, HOW WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE IT, AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS. I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WHO OWN BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO THERE, I GET IT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE THINKING. THEY HAVE EXPRESSED IT TO ME, AND I GET IT. BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET. AS GOVERNOR I HAVE TO TRY TO KEEP THIS VIRUS DOWN. AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE GETTING THE VACCINES OUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. SO THE WAY OUT OF THIS IN THE END WILL BE THE VACCINE. THE FASTER WE CAN GET THE VACCINE IN. THAT IS OUR GOAL. WE ARE GOING TO WATCH THESE OTHER NUMBERS. IF THE OTHER NUMBERS WILL GO DOWN APPRECIABLY, THEN WE WILL HOLD OFF THAT, BUT NOT YET. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LAURA HANCOCK AT THE CLEVELAND "PLAIN DEALER." >> HI, GOVERNOR. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S PLAN TO VACCINATE 100 MILLION IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS. YOU SAID FIRST AND FOREMOST WE NEED SHOTS IN OHIO. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT LOGISTICS. HAS ANYBODY CONTACTED YOU ABOUT INVOKING THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ARC OR ANY COMPANIES YOU KNOW OF THAT HAVE BEEN CONTACTED TO MANUFACTURE SIR RINGSES AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND IS THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD AT ITS LIMIT RIGHT NOW, OR COULD THERE BE SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN AVAILABLE TO OPEN NEW MASS VACCINATION CENTERS. WOULD THAT BE LOGICALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE STATE? >> WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED I THINK ABOUT 100 SITES. I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE, BUT SITES WHERE WE COULD GO MASS VACCINATIONS. THE THRUST OF MY LETTER AND JUST TO PUT THIS IN CONTEXT, I TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. THEY ASKED US TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS. THAT OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS REALLY SIMPLE. I KNOW EVERY OTHER STATE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT I WANTED THE BIDEN AND THE PRESIDENT TO UNDERSTAND, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET IT OUT. WE HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THEM. IN FACT, WE WERE ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING. I WAS ON A CALL THIS MORNING WITH THEM BOTH BEFORE TAKING OFFICE AND TODAY AND YESTERDAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. I THINK THE LETTER -- YOU HAVE SEEN THE LETTER, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH THE LETTER. BUT WE JUST WANTED TO OUTLINE WHAT THE REAL NEED WAS. BIGGEST THING WE NEED IS MORE VACCINE. AND AS FAR AS ANY COMPANY BEING CONTACTED IN OHIO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY. BUT I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY KNOW THAT. WE HAVE INDICATED -- THEY HAVE INVOKE THE ACT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO HAS BEEN CONTACTED. >> I MIGHT ADD TO THAT WE ARE USING AROUND 730 OR 750 PROVIDERS RIGHT NOW, AND ALMOST 2,000 HAVE SIGNED UP THAT ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES. WE HAVE MORE WILLING TO COME ON. >> YES. OUR PROBLEM -- AS JOHN SAYS, WE HAVE OVER 2,000 ENTITIES THAT AND WE ARE ONLY USING SEVEN HUNDRED AND SOME BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE. WE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO TRY TO GET THIS OUT TO EVERY PART OF THE STATE OF OHIO, TO GET IT OUT TO EVERY PART OF THE STATE AND TO DO THAT. WE CAN MOVE UP SIGNIFICANTLY BY CREATING MORE MASS VACCINATION SITES. WE ALSO FRANKLY, MANY OF OUR PROVIDERS HAVE T CAPACITY TO EXPAND. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH C.E.O.'S OF OUR HOSPITALS TODAY, TALKING DIRECTLY TO EACH ONE, AND EACH ONE TOLD ME WE ARE NOT AT CAPACITY, AND WE CAN RAMP THIS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. WE KNOW THE NUMBERS AND WHERE THIS CAN TAKE THEM. IF WE WAKE UP SOME DAY AND HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH MORE VACCINES, WE KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH THEM. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ALEX AT BLOOMBERG. >> THANKS FOR TAKING OUR QUESTIONS, GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR, LAST YEAR YOU HAD AN ISSUE WHERE YOU HAD A FALSE RAPID ANTIGEN TEST RESULT. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THOSE, AND WHY IS THE STATE SPENDING $50 MILLION TO GET TWO MILLION MORE OF THEM WHEN YOU HAD A DIFFICULT RESULT THERE? WHY SPEND OUR CARES ACT MONEY THANK YOU. >> I AM GOING TO DR. THE DOCTOR GIVE YOU THE MEDICAL SIDE OF THIS, BUT IT IS CLEAR TO ME FROM TALKING TO EXPERTS THAT RAPID TESTS HAVE A ROLE. THEY HAVE A PLACE. JUST AS P.C.R. TESTS HAVE A ROLE. YOU USE THEM STRATEGICALLY DIFFERENTLY. BEEN A REQUEST FROM LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE REALLY SAID TO US WE NEED TO CONTROL SOME OF THESE. SO IF WE HAVE GOT A HOT SPOT OVER HERE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE, WE CAN GO IN RIGHT THAT DAY AND GET PEOPLE TESTED, CONTROL IT OURSELVES, GET THE TESTING, GET THE RESULTS, DOT CONTACT TRACING, DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. IT HAS REALLY BEEN A LONG-TERM DESIRE THAT WE ARE NOW ABLE TO HELP OUR 113 LOCAL HEALTH DOCTOR, I AM GOING TO REFER TO YOU IN REGARD TO THE ANT GENERAL TESTING AND HOW THEY ARE DEPLOYED. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. THE ONLY THINGS THAT I WOULD ADD TO THE GOVERNOR'S VERY, VERY GOOD SUMMARY WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING. VIRS, IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO MAY BE CONCERNED THAT THEY COULD BE POSITIVE OR MAYBE IN SETTINGS WHERE THEY THINK THEY MAY HAVE HAD AN EXPOSURE, THE BETTER. SO GETTING MORE INFORMATION IS BETTER. THE SECOND IS THAT THESE TESTS HAVE A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE NOW IN A POSITIVE TESTS. I THINK THOSE TWO FACTS TOGETHER REALLY MAKE IT PRUDE FOR US TO -- PRUDENT FOR US TO GET AS MANY TESTS OUT INTO THE PEOPLE'S HAND AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. >> AND DOCTOR, JUST TO CONCLUDE ON THAT, YOU STILL COULD HAVE, THOUGH, A FALSE NEGATIVE? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WITH THESE TESTS, THE CHALLENGE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF FALSE NEGATIVE. WHEN AN ANTIGEN TEST IS POSITIVE, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, IT IS POSITIVE. YOU CAN HAVE A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE IN THAT. NOT SO MUCH WITH A NEGATIVE RESULT. SO I WOULD NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, ANTIGEN TEST AND GIVING THEMSELVES A CLEAN BILL OF COVID HEALTH. A NEGATIVE ANTIGEN TEST DOES NOT REALLY GIVE YOU THE KIND OF CONFIDENT ANSWER A POSITIVE TEST DOES. BUT IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE RESULT, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YOU KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE WE HAVE GIVEN IN REFERENCE TO POSITIVE COVID TESTING. >> SO DOCTOR, MY FALSE POSITIVE WAS AN ODDITY? >> THAT IS RIGHT. YOUR FALSE POSITIVE, WE NOW KNOW THAT KIND OF EVENT IS EXTREMELY RARE. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF REASONS WE COULD SPECULATE FOR A RARE FALSE POSITIVE. BUT THE TRUE POSITIVE RATE ON THESE TESTS IS VERY HIGH. >> YOUR NEXT QUESTION, GOVERNOR IS FROM BEN. >> HI, GOVERNOR. I KNOW KIDS AREN'T APPROVED TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE YET, BUT WHAT ABOUT PARENTS WITH IS THERE ANY CHANCE THEY COULD GET BUMPED UP IN THE PROCESS TO RISK SPREAD TO THEIR CHILDREN? THANK YOU. >> I WILL GO TO DR. VANDERHOFF BE TO TALK ABOUT RISK IN GENERAL. WE USUALLY CAN MAKE -- ALMOST EVERY PLEA TO US HAS BEEN VERY WELL THOUGHT-OUT AND CAN MAKE A GOOD CASE. I WILL LIKE -- LET HIM TALK ABOUT THIS. PEOPLE HAVE SAID WHY CAN'T WE GO FORWARD, AND THEY MAKE A VERY GOOD CASE. IF WE SAY YES TO YOU, ANOTHER GROUP GETS SHOVED BACK. THAT IS WHY THIS IS SO GUT-WRENCHING AND FRANKLY SO VERY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT MADE IN A VACUUM. WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERY WEEK NOW SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 100, MAKE 120 OR 130 TEST -- OTHER EXCUSE ME, THE VACCINE THAT WE CAN PUT OUT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ELDERLY. IF WE INCLUDE SOMEBODY ELSE RIGHT NOW, YOU WOULD BE CROWDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT. BUT DR. VANDERHOFF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO BEN'S SPECIFIC QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. BEN, I THINK THE GOVERNOR GAVE A VERY GOOD ANSWER. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY LIMITED RESOURCE, SOMETHING THAT OF COURSE WE WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO THE HANDS OF EVERYONE IN OHIO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE REALITY IS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH VACCINE FOR US TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN TODAY. SITUATION OF HAVING TO SAY WELL, WHO IS AT THE HIGHEST RISK? WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO DIE IF THAT ANSWER CLEARLY LINES UP WITH AGE. ADVANCING AGE IS THE GREATEST RISK FACTOR THERE. OUR APPROACH, I, HAS BEEN VERY WISE. AS I SAID AT A PREVIOUS PRESS CONFERENCE, WE RECOGNIZE THERE INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CARON LOGIC AGE AND PHYSIOLOGIC AGE MAY NOT LINE UP WELL. THAT IS THE GROUP THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN OUR 1-B LIST OF SEVERE CONGENITAL, MEDICAL OR EARLY ON SET MEDICAL DISORDERS. OHIOANS AT GREATEST RISK OF DYING. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DON'T THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN OHIO WHO ARE VACCINE. >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CORINE AT WCMH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE 2,000 ENTITIES THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THE VACCINATION PROCESS. HOW DOES THE STATE VET PROVIDERS AFTER WE HEARD ABOUT THE WASTED DOSES THIS WEEK. >> FIRST OF ALL, THAT IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. WE HAVE REFERRED THEM TO THE PHARMACUTICALS BOARD. WE OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT GOING TO SHIP THEM ANY ADDITIONAL DOSES. EVERY GROUP THAT WE WORK WITH HAS EXPERIENCE, AND WE EXPLAIN THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROTOCOL. WE GO THROUGH THE PROTOCOL WITH THEM, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE USED TO USING THAT. WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, MOST OF THE NURSING HOMES IN THE STATE OF OHIO WENT WITH THE NATIONAL PHARMACY COMPANIES. THEY PICKED A COMPANY, WORKED IT OUT, AND THAT PROGRAM HAS WORKED EXCEEDINGLY WELL. THE FOUR PHARMACY COMPANIES HAVE DONE A VERY, VERY GOOD JOB. THIS WAS A NURSING HOME -- WE HAD MAYBE A BIG HANDFUL, 30 OR 40, NURSING HOMES IN THE STATE WANTED TO GO WITH A DIFFERENT PROVIDER. THIS NURSING HOME MADE THE DECISION TO GO WITH THAT PROVIDER, AND TRAGICALLY WE SAW THIS HUGE WASTE. IT WAS JUST NOT GOOD. THESE ARE PRECIOUS, LIMITED IN SUPPLY. EACH ONE HAS THE CAPABILITY OF SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE. WE NEVER KNOW WHOSE LIVE WE ARE -- WHOSE LIFE WE ARE SAVING, BUT COLLECTIVELY THEY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. BUT AN INFURIATING SITUATION. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SPENCER. >> THANK YOU. GOVERNOR, RETURNING TO YOUR LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, CAN YOU DISCUSS SOME OF THE OTHER POINTS SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER VACCINES, PARTICULARLY ON THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN PROMOTING VACCINATION AS MASK WELL AS WELL AS THE REQUEST FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY ON BROADBAND? >> WELL, WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU WE TRIED TO LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WERE CONNECTED TO WHAT COVID HAS EITHER CAUSED OR BROUGHT OUT. THE BROADBAND HELP IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT HOME TO EVERYONE EVEN MORE SO. WE ALREADY KNEW WE HAD A PROBLEM. BUT WHEN WE SEE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE REMOTE AND ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING TO BE ABLE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE ALSO ASKED FOR JUST MORE FLEXIBILITY IN REGARD TO MONEY. I GUESS IT IS KIND OF AN AGE-OLD REQUEST BY THE STATES TO HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY. BUT GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. AS FAR AS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN, I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN. YOU SAW THAT WE HAVE STARTED OUR OWN CAMPAIGN IN OHIO. WE HAVE DONE THIS THROUGHOUT, HAD DIFFERENT MEDIA CAM PAINS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, RADIO AND TV. NOW WE ARE UP TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE. BUT A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN IN THAT AREA WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AS WELL. THAT WERE CONTAINED IN THE LETTER. >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KEVIN AT WBNS. >> HELLO, GOVERNOR. THE E-MAILS WE ARE GETTING AT OHIO'S UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE IS A MESS. THEY SAY IT IS UNDERSTAFFED, PEOPLE CAN'T GET THEIR QUESTIONS ASKED, AND PAINTS ARE SLOW TO REACH THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST. WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND ISSUES CHARGED TO SOLVE THEM? YESTERDAY THE DIRECTOR SAID THE COMPUTERS AREN'T ON THE CLOUD, AGO. THEY SAID IT WOULD BE IN 2022MENT IS IT TAKING SO LONG? >> FIRST OF ALL, ANYONE WHO IS WHAT FOLLOWS HERE DOES NOT TAKE AWAY YOUR ANGUISH, YOUR IRRITATION OR ANYTHING ELSE. BUT AS FAR AS AN EXPLANATION, WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, IT WAS CLOUD. TEAM WILL NOT FINISH UNTIL END OF THIS YEAR. THAT HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS. THE BALLOONING OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT IN OHIO OCCURRED DURING THAT ATTEMPT TO GET ON THE CLOUD OR THAT WORK THAT HAS BEEN PROGRESSING. WE HAVE RANCHED UP THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS STARTED, WE HAD SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 430-SOMETHING PEOPLE WORKING. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURES. THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MAY HAVE THOSE. BUT I THINK WE ARE AROUND 1,00 NOW -- 1,800 NOW. WE TEND TO BE ABOUT 2,500 BY MARCH. THESE ARE PROCESS ANSWERS. DOESN'T MAKE ANYBODY FEEL ANY BUT THIS IS NOT -- AS YOU KNOW, WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW FEDERAL LAW, AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS. IT IS A CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE VERIFIED, THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE STATE OF OHIO. IT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS. JOHN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT OR NOT. IN THIS AREA. >> YEAH, LOOK, I DON'T BLAME PEOPLE FOR BEING FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND YOU ARE NOT BEING SERVED AT THE SPEED THAT YOU NEED THE HELP, FRUSTRATION BUILDS. I THINK THAT HAS TAPPED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT COMP. IT IS WITH VACCINES WHEN WE WISH WE HAD MORE VACCINES. BUT WE DEAL WITH THE WORLD AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGITIMATE REASONS FROM A THIS HAS BEEN HARD FOREOHIO. BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE -- HARDER FOR OHIO. TO CONTINUE TO CREATE THAT SENSE OF URGENCY AT THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES. I BELIEVE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT AND ARE WORKING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES. THE ONE CHALLENGE THAT I THINK ALL STATES ARE HAVING THAT DO NOT HAVE A CLOUD-BASED COMPUTER SYSTEM IS THAT THEY WERE ASKED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO START A BRAND NEW PROGRAM CALLED THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE DID NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY BACKBONE TO DO THAT. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I CREATED INNOVATE OHIO AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS WITH LOTS OF ASPECTS. THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNOR AND I SAID AT THE VERY FIRST PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR TECHNOLOGY. BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE LARGE. THE SYSTEM AT ADJFS IS VERY LARGE AND WILL TAKE TIME TO DO. BUT THE NEW PANDEMIC SYSTEM THE SOURCE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS. YOUR QUESTION -- AND YOU CAN PROBABLY FEEL FROM THE GOVERNOR'S AND MY RESPONSE, THAT WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL -- WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A GREAT DEAL OF URGENCY SO THAT THEY ARE IMPROVING THE WAY WE ARE SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS, AVOIDING THESE SERVICES IN AN IMPROVED MANNER. >> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM CHELSEA AT FOX 45 IN DAYTON. >> HI, GOVERNOR. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO BARS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS WHO TELL ME THEY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE 10:00 CURFEW. THEY SAY THEY CAN DO THE SAME SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS AT 1:30 A.M. THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING AT 9:30 IN THE EVENING. IS THERE ANY PROOF THAT THIS CURFEW IS WORKING TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19? AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE OWNERS WHO ARE FEELING DISCOURAGED BY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY? >> MY MESSAGE WOULD BE THIS. I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS HIT YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE. WE BAYLESS THIS ON THE SCIENCE, AND THE SCIENCE IS THIS. WE HAVE MORE SPREAD INSIDE. NO LONGER CAN YOUR PATRONS BE OUTSIDE ON A PATIO. THEY ARE INSIDE. IT SPREADS MORE IN THE WINTER. YOUR BUSINESS IS A BUSINESS THAT UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE CANNOT WEAR A MASK AT THE SAME THE SAME TIME THAT THEY ARE DRINKING. AND SO YOU DO A GOOD JOB. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT. BUT THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS IS THAT THERE IS NOT THE ABILITY TO WEAR A MASK. WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE THIS BEGAN, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT, WHAT THE SCIENTISTS HAVE LEARNED, IS THE POWER OF THE MASK. AN EXAMPLE IS SCHOOLS. WE DON'T SEE SPREAD IN SCHOOLS THEMSELVES. IT MAY HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL PERIPHERALLY, BUT IN THE CLASSROOM ITSELF, WE ARE SEEING VIRTUALLY NO SPREAD THAT IS OCCURRING. WHY? PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS. TEACHERS ARE WEARING MASKS. STUDENTS ARE ALL WEARING MASKS. YOU CANNOT DO THAT IN A RESTAURANT OR A BAR. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TIME. UNDERSTANDABLY, SPREAD AT 9:30 VERSUS 10:30, THERE IS PROBABLY NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN SPREAD. WE DID THIS AS A COMPROMISE. SOME OF THE BEST EXPERTS WE TALKED TO SAID CLOSE BARS, CLOSE RESTAURANTS. WE HAVE HAD STATE AFTER STATE TIMES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. WE HAD THE DOCTOR IN A FEW MONTHS AGO WHO SAID YOU REALLY NEED TO CLOSE YOUR BARS. FROM THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE, YOU REALLY NEED TO CLOSE YOUR BARS. YOU REALLY NEED TO CLOSE YOUR RESTAURANTS. WHAT WE DID IS A COMPROMISE, AND THE COMPROMISE IS PSYCHO. WE HAVE CUT OFF SOME OF THE TIME WHEN THERE CAN BE CONTACT. WE HAVE CUT OFF SOME OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRINKING LONGER AND THEY ARE NOT AS INHINTED, AND WE DID THAT AS A COMPROMISE THERE. IS NOTHING MAGICAL ABOUT 10:00. BASED IN SCIENCE IS CUTTING DOWN THE CONTACT TIME. WHEN YOU CUT DOWN THE CONTACT TIME, YOU CUT DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT SPREAD. SO THOSE FEW HOURS AFTER 10:00 CUTS DOWN ON THAT. WE PUT THIS INTO EFFECT AT ROUGHLY THE SAME TIME WE STARTED ENFORCING THE MASK IN RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS. THOSE TWO THINGS CAME TOGETHER, AND WHEN THEY CAME TOGETHER, WE SAW WHAT HAD BEEN GOING UP LIKE A ROCKET AS FAR AS CASES, WE SAW IT EVEN OUT. AND SO WE BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THOSE TWO ACTS COMBINE HAD THIS RESULT. SO WITH THE NEW VARIANT AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE A MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS VIRUS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING AN PIERREABLE DROP IN CASES, STILL AT A VERY, VERY HIGH RATE, WE SIMPLY CANNOT CHANGE AT THIS POINT THE CURFEW, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. >> NEXT QUESTION IS JIM AT THE TOLEDO BLADE. >> HI, GOVERNOR. THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS. CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW MANY OF THESE HOME TESTS THE $50 WILL BUY? AND WILL THOSE RESULTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BEING CONDUCTED AT HOME BE REPORTED LIKE EVERY OTHER TEST THAT IS CONDUCTED IN THE STATE? >> YES. THE FIRST PART. EVERY TEST THAT IS DONE IS REPORTED IN OHIO. I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW THAT IS THE PROTOCOL. I MISSED THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION. >> HOW MANY TESTS DOES $50 MILLION BUY? >> THESE TESTS ARE I BELIEVE $25 A TEST. SO WE ARE BEARING THE ENTIRE COST, THE STATE IS, TO GIVE THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THAT TOOL. AGAIN, I WOULD STRESS IT IS A TOOL THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HAVE NOT BUT NOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE, AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY, AND IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET. SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE THEM THOSE TESTS. AND AGAIN, MANY, MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE SAID WE JUST HAD THIS SPIKE UP, AND IF WE JUST HAD THE ABILITY TO MOVE IN VERY QUICKLY, LIKE THAT, GET PEOPLE TESTED, FIGURE OUT WHO'S WHO, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SLOW THAT BREAK-OUT IN THIS MEAT PACKING FACTORY, OR IN THIS OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS. IT WASN'T ALWAYS BUSINESSES. SOMETIMES IT WAS OTHER THINGS. BUT USING THAT AS AN AGGRESSIVE TOOL. SO THIS IS PORT OF OUR EFFORT TO REALLY GO ON OFFENSE AS WE NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE HAVE GOT THEM, AND WE ARE PUTTING THEM OUT. AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE MORE TESTING NOW, WE ARE GOING TO BECOME MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THAT TESTING. >> GOVERNOR, YOUR LAST QUESTION FOR THE DAY IS FROM SARAH WITH OGDEN NEWS. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. I AM WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK FURTHER TO THE STATE'S EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TOWARDS OHIOANS WHO MAY BE RELUCTANT TO GET THE VACCINE? WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE ARE YOU GETTING OUT THERE AND HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU OF GETTING THEM OUT THERE? >> WELL, I THINK IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. EARLIER WE ASKED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- EXCUSE ME, THAT, AND TO WEIGH IN. WE HAVE AN AD THAT JUST STARTED RUNNING. WE WILL FOLLOW THAT AD. IT SHOULD BE IN EVERY MARKET IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT IN A FEW DAYS WITH A SECOND AD. WE WILL HAVE THOSE TWO ADS RUNNING. IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ASKED EACH COUNTY -- IF YOU REMEMBER A FEW MONTHS AGO WE ASKED EACH COUNTY TO PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP, AND WE HAVE ASKED THESE WORKING GROUPS TO REALLY FOCUS ON HOW YOU GET THE MY EXPERIENCE IN LIFE IS THAT WE RELY ON OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS FOR INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY FOR EXPERIENCES. SO I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE GET THE SHOT, THE MORE PEOPLE THINK IT IS OK, AND THEY TELL THEIR FRIENDS, AND THEY TELL THEIR RELATIVES, THEN I THINK BY WORD OF MOUTH IT WILL SPREAD. BUT IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, AND WE KNOW THAT, AND WE KNOW IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. WILL TALK ABOUT. I WILL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE HAVE MORE TIME, MAYBE NEXT TIME, IN REGARD TO OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES. LET ME JUST CONCLUDE -- I KNOW GETTING BACK TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT, WE ARE VERY, VERY SORRY ABOUT THAT. I KNOW FROM TALKING MANY, MANY TIMES TO THE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR HENDERSON, ABOUT HOW DEEPLY SHE FEELS ABOUT THIS AND HOW URGENT SHE FEELS IT IS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. SHE IS DEALING WITH IT. AS I SAID, SHE HAS INCREASED THE STAFF BY FIVE-FOLD THAT IS WORKING ON THIS, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO GET THIS ON THE CLOUD. I KNOW THAT SHE IS FEELING THIS AS WELL, AND IF SHE

Coronavirus latest: 859,841 cases in Ohio; 341,829 in Kentucky; 611,039 in Indiana

Updated: 12:28 PM EST Jan 24, 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, 859,841, 10,680 deaths | Kentucky 341,829, 3,386 deaths | Indiana, 611,039, 9,340 deathsEducational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resourcesCORONAVIRUS IN OHIOOhio's curfew, which was slated to expire this weekend, has been extended.Speaking during his his twice-weekly press briefing, the Gov. Mike DeWine said the curfew will have to continue.On Friday, DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health is extending Ohio's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until Jan. 30."Next step will probably be to take it to 11 p.m.," the governor said, although he said the numbers remain too high.Before DeWine extended the curfew, it was set to expire on Saturday.Work, necessary food, medical care and social services are exempt from the curfew.Businesses across the area are asked to close their doors to customers. However, carryout and delivery options may remain open.DeWine said this measure is needed to reduce cases and stop the state’s hospitals from being overrun. The curfew, paired with increased mask-wearing, could help cut contacts between people by 20% to 25%, he said.CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKYGov. Andy Beshear watched teachers get vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday and later headlined a memorial ceremony for the thousands of Kentuckians who have died from the virus.The dual events reflected the hope of ultimately defeating the coronavirus and the losses the pandemic has inflicted, killing more than 3,300 Kentuckians, the governor said.American flags were planted outside the state Capitol during the memorial ceremony in Frankfort. Earlier in the day, Beshear was in Louisville as teachers were being vaccinated, underscoring his push to get K-12 staffers inoculated statewide to get schools reopened. The state hopes to finish the first round of vaccinations for school staffers by the end of the first week in February.During the memorial event, Beshear called the vaccination program he saw Friday a hopeful moment as he commemorated “another sad milestone in our war against COVID-19.”“The light at the end of this dark tunnel grows ever closer as we walk toward it," he said. "But this commemoration shows that we remain in a very dangerous and still a very dark time, with the pace of COVID-19’s destruction at one of its highest points in the entire pandemic.”Kentucky reported 2,756 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 36 more virus-related deaths Friday. More than 1,500 virus patients are hospitalized in Kentucky, including 387 in intensive care units. The state said its rate of positive COVID-19 cases was 10.8%, its lowest level since Jan. 2.Kentucky has fared much better than other states, the Democratic governor said at the memorial ceremony. But he added: "It’s hard to feel anything but pain and grief when we have lost so much and we are still not out of the woods in battling this virus.”Beshear added that “untold numbers of lives” have been saved by a combination of “strong, decisive measures” along with the “compassion, dedication and sacrifice of so many Kentuckians."Since the pandemic hit, Beshear ordered a series of restrictions on businesses and individuals. His executive actions resulted in a strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who recently passed legislation to limit his emergency powers. Beshear vetoed the measures, but GOP lawmakers have the numbers to override the governor when they resume their session in February.As Kentucky has ramped up its vaccination campaign, demand has outpaced supply. It prompted Beshear to ask the federal government to double Kentucky’s vaccine allotment.“We believe in this state right now we could give a quarter-of-a-million vaccinations every week,” he said during his Louisville stop Friday. “Think about how quickly, if that were possible, we could get to herd immunity in this commonwealth.”Kentucky is administering the vaccine faster than the federal government is sending in new doses, the governor said.CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANAThe Indiana Department of Health announced Sunday that 2,565 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 611,039 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.A total of 9,340 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 23 from the previous day. Another 376 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by the state and occurred over multiple days. To date, 2,900,051 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 2,890,956 on Saturday. A total of 6,738,341 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.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 epiresource@isdh.in.gov.Centers 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, 859,841, 10,680 deaths | Kentucky 341,829, 3,386 deaths | Indiana, 611,039, 9,340 deaths

Educational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resources

CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO

Ohio's curfew, which was slated to expire this weekend, has been extended.

Speaking during his his twice-weekly press briefing, the Gov. Mike DeWine said the curfew will have to continue.

On Friday, DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health is extending Ohio's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until Jan. 30.

"Next step will probably be to take it to 11 p.m.," the governor said, although he said the numbers remain too high.

Before DeWine extended the curfew, it was set to expire on Saturday.

Work, necessary food, medical care and social services are exempt from the curfew.

Businesses across the area are asked to close their doors to customers. However, carryout and delivery options may remain open.

DeWine said this measure is needed to reduce cases and stop the state’s hospitals from being overrun. The curfew, paired with increased mask-wearing, could help cut contacts between people by 20% to 25%, he said.

CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKY

Gov. Andy Beshear watched teachers get vaccinated against COVID-19 on Friday and later headlined a memorial ceremony for the thousands of Kentuckians who have died from the virus.

The dual events reflected the hope of ultimately defeating the coronavirus and the losses the pandemic has inflicted, killing more than 3,300 Kentuckians, the governor said.

American flags were planted outside the state Capitol during the memorial ceremony in Frankfort. Earlier in the day, Beshear was in Louisville as teachers were being vaccinated, underscoring his push to get K-12 staffers inoculated statewide to get schools reopened. The state hopes to finish the first round of vaccinations for school staffers by the end of the first week in February.

During the memorial event, Beshear called the vaccination program he saw Friday a hopeful moment as he commemorated “another sad milestone in our war against COVID-19.”

“The light at the end of this dark tunnel grows ever closer as we walk toward it," he said. "But this commemoration shows that we remain in a very dangerous and still a very dark time, with the pace of COVID-19’s destruction at one of its highest points in the entire pandemic.”

Kentucky reported 2,756 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 36 more virus-related deaths Friday. More than 1,500 virus patients are hospitalized in Kentucky, including 387 in intensive care units. The state said its rate of positive COVID-19 cases was 10.8%, its lowest level since Jan. 2.

Kentucky has fared much better than other states, the Democratic governor said at the memorial ceremony. But he added: "It’s hard to feel anything but pain and grief when we have lost so much and we are still not out of the woods in battling this virus.”

Beshear added that “untold numbers of lives” have been saved by a combination of “strong, decisive measures” along with the “compassion, dedication and sacrifice of so many Kentuckians."

Since the pandemic hit, Beshear ordered a series of restrictions on businesses and individuals. His executive actions resulted in a strong pushback from Republican lawmakers, who recently passed legislation to limit his emergency powers. Beshear vetoed the measures, but GOP lawmakers have the numbers to override the governor when they resume their session in February.

As Kentucky has ramped up its vaccination campaign, demand has outpaced supply. It prompted Beshear to ask the federal government to double Kentucky’s vaccine allotment.

“We believe in this state right now we could give a quarter-of-a-million vaccinations every week,” he said during his Louisville stop Friday. “Think about how quickly, if that were possible, we could get to herd immunity in this commonwealth.”

Kentucky is administering the vaccine faster than the federal government is sending in new doses, the governor said.

CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANA

The Indiana Department of Health announced Sunday that 2,565 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 611,039 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.

A total of 9,340 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 23 from the previous day. Another 376 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by the state and occurred over multiple days.

To date, 2,900,051 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 2,890,956 on Saturday. A total of 6,738,341 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.

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 epiresource@isdh.in.gov.

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