1,098,593 cases in Ohio; 456,053 in Kentucky; 741,053 in Indiana

Good afternoon, Everyone this week is an exciting week as our first Ohio vaccine. Million uh, winner will be announced on Wednesday night 7 29. During the evening Ohio lottery broadcast. The Ohio lottery has conducted a data integrity review of registrations, registration is closed at midnight last night. This review included removal of duplicate, uh, entries. I'm pleased to announce that two million, 758,470 Ohioans have registered for the $1 million dollar drawing. And again, a reminder, Once you're registered, you're in for all five drawings through the next few weeks. So again, that number Is 2,000,000, Ohioans are in and registered. Also, 104,386 young Ohioans registered for the scholarship drawing again, that's our young Ohio 104,386 people registered. Yeah. Overall, as of this morning, we've had 74 million page views on a registration page at Ohio vaccine million dot com. And finally the amount of earned media that we have received in stories just for the first week for the first seven days Comes up to $15 million. $15 million dollars of free earned media in regard to vaccine million. And again remember that you can still register for the subsequent four remaining drawings. You can register right now by visiting Ohio vacs a million dot com. That's Ohio backs a million dot com. If you do not have internet access, you can also call 18334 ask O. D. H. That's 18334 ask O. D. H. To register by telephone. If you do have internet access registration online at maximilian dot com is preferred. And as the fastest option to register with the exact same odds of winning however you get in. You are in. I've asked our data team too kind of drill down on where we're seeing the increases since we announced the vaccine. Million. And uh as we've talked about, we've seen have seen significant increases. Very, very happy about that. That's what we hope we would see. But just kind of break it down. The group that has registered much faster where we've seen. The biggest increase Is those 16 and 17 years of age. Very, very interesting. One assumes that they are very interested in getting that scholarship. They're looking at college coming up and they're looking to see if they can get in. And And when that uh that group, the 16-17 year olds, there's been a 94% increase in vaccinations among the ages 18 and 19, we've seen a 46% increase And ages 20 to 49 we've seen a 55% increase in vaccinations. I've also asked our team to look at um where we've seen the most increases by county. And The following are the top 10 counties where we've seen the most increase. Again, interesting. Uh Athens County leads at 144% increase. Harrison County is 2nd, increase, Morgan County, 138% increase. Seneca County 138% increase. Why not? 129% increase. Miami County, Miami County 129% increase, Galya County 119% increase. Lawrence County 113% increase. Fayette County 113% increase. And finally, uh rounding out the top 10 ross County with 100 and 7% increase. Um We have seen increases really across the all demographic groups. Um And that's that's a that's a very very good thing. So that is great. Great news. Uh Let me talk about some other good news today. We saw the approval of nine projects that are set to create over 3000 new jobs and retain over 4500 jobs statewide. One of the projects, Its pollutant interactive, which will create more than 2000 jobs and new manufacturing facility in Wood County. This is their first in the United States. They help break ground later this summer. So that's very very good news. Ohio continues to have a strong pipeline of projects that will create jobs for Ohioans and support our post pandemic recovery. We appreciate the work of jobs Ohio as well as our development service agency to support business growth in in the state of Ohio ERIC. Let's go and let's take a look at some of our data slides. Yeah. Are key indicators you'll see on key indicators cases down. Uh we're looking at this number uh love to see it go below 1000. That's the 21 day average per day. So we're trending certainly in the right direction ERIC the next one. This is the number we continue to look at. If you recall some time ago we said 50 cases per 100,000 for two week periods statewide was where we wanted to get to. Uh we have seen a continuous decrease. We're now going down about two a day uh to somewhere between one a half to three a day. We're going down we're 89. So as you can see We've got about 39, almost 40% or 40 to go or cases excuse me not present but cases to go. So we're moving in the right in the right direction in regard to that erIC this is hospitalizations or hospitalizations. Last reported number Ohioans in the hospital for COVID at 767, 767. So that is a obviously a number that's been coming down. We're very happy about that as well and any of the numbers there erIC okay as we continue to look at the numbers of vaccinations being administered across Ohio, we know that Ohio Medicaid beneficiaries have a lower uptake than their fellow citizens in Ohio. And its appreciable uh Difference. 42% compared to about 45%. So excuse me, 22% compared to approximately 45%. So 22% of Medicaid, that obviously is not a number that we're happy with is much, much too low. And earlier this month we challenged our managed care plans to do much more in this area are managed care plans or those who are delivering seeing that the services are delivered in regard to medical care. We must get these numbers up there simply unacceptable. The managed care companies are now implementing a game plan to do just that. And these are some of the things that they are doing partnering directly with pharmacies. They're providing incentives such as gift cards to people on Medicaid who get vaccines and pharmacies. They're incentivizing pharmacists to counsel people picking up prescriptions about their vaccinations. That uh latter point is very, very important having the pharmacies, pharmacists spend time with that individual and talking and counseling them in regard to the vaccinations. Uh Next working with local health departments, community providers, faith based efforts to help get the word out about vaccination events to people on Medicaid. Whereas the vaccination occurring where these events taking place, uh managed care is also providing staff to help run the events when needed, and providing transportation to make sure people can get to and from the vaccination locations. Finally tailoring strategies to meet people where they are certainly something that we've been trying to do throughout this. This is a special effort in regard to people who are on Medicaid. Um they've identified individuals. The man's carers, identified individuals who can't leave their homes are working with providers who can go directly to them with shots. They're also working with providers to help them create vaccine opportunities outside of normal business hours. These major efforts show promise. We believe we're hopeful that this will bring about an increase in vaccinations among those people who are on Medicaid. So high priority, something that we have challenged the managed care companies to do. Um Again, getting people vaccinated is how we get out of this pandemic on the phone this morning with our local health departments. They brought up an issue of discussion that some of them have been having with our local school districts and as everyone knows on june 2nd um the health orders with the exception of our nursing homes and assisted living or health orders basically go away. Um So the question they've raised a question though, in regard to quarantine, um I won't take a minute to clarify some information about this when dealing with deadly communicable diseases, isolation and quarantine of unvaccinated people has been used successfully for hundreds, if not thousands of years. It did not start, it did not start with the pandemic. In the simplest terms, isolation and quarantine will be conducted as they were before COVID-19 and as they were when we had health orders on Beginning June two. In accordance with CDC guidelines, if a child has not been vaccinated, they should isolate if they test positive for covid. So in other words, we will continue moving forward in regard to isolation based upon traditional health rules, traditional health best practices and best practice is probably a better way to describe it. So in accordance with CDC guidance, if a child has not been vaccinated, they should isolate if they test positive for covid. While this is not a stealth state health order, it is standard infection control practice vaccinating Children vaccinated Children do not have to quarantine or be tested if they are exposed. Let me again say that vaccinated Children do not have to quarantine or be tested if they're exposed. Unvaccinated Children who are close contacts of the positive case should in fact quarantine. So, unvaccinated Children who are have a close contact with someone who test positive should quarantine again, while this is not a state health order is standard infection control practice. This is in keeping with the best practices and local health department should determine if quarantine or isolation should occur just as they always had throughout history. Isolation. Which is what happens when a person is sick and quarantine and quarantine mistake. Again, isolation, which is what happens when a person is sick and quarantine are standard public health practices that are implemented for many communicable diseases, including measles and mumps. No change there. Let me talk for a moment and then I'm gonna send it over to dr Vanderhof to talk a little bit more in detail about this. On June two, however, it will be up to the individual school districts as to where they continue masking and social distancing in school settings. So again June two, it's up to schools to determine where they continue to mask what they do in regard to social distancing, um, up to each school. But I can only say that our schools have been phenomenally successful in keeping down spread in the classroom. They have done this by wearing mask. The other thing that we should keep in mind that as of today, A child, 11 years age and younger cannot, cannot be vaccinated. So I would hope that schools superintendent school boards, we'll take that into consideration. So they're call what to do in regard to in regard to the masking. But this is something that certainly has worked exceedingly exceedingly well. Doctor Vanderhof maybe a little bit about the normal the norm in regard to dealing with communicable diseases, how we normally deal with that and how we're going to continue to deal with that in regard to covid. Sure. Thank you very much. Governor. As you noted, isolation and quarantine have been around a very long time. In fact, you'll find reference to them in the old testament in the bible. Uh, they're widely employed. They're among the most effective public health measures known to humanity. Uh, isolation and quarantine really help protect all of us. They help protect the population of the public by preventing exposure to people who have or who may have a contagious disease, which again is the governor noted. Covid clearly is now just to reiterate isolation. Specifically separates sick people from people who aren't sick. So a very rational thing to do. Quarantine separates people who were exposed to a contagious person to see if they become sick. Now, fortunately, our vaccines are highly effective in protecting people against COVID-19 and so therefore four fully vaccinated people are unlikely to get or transmit COVID-19 to others. So generally speaking, vaccinated people vaccinated Children in school with no covid like symptoms don't need to quarantine. They don't need to be restricted from work school or play. They don't need to be tested following an exposure to somebody. However unvaccinated people lack this protection. And so the C. D. C. Continue and used to endorse quarantine for people who don't have symptoms but may have had an exposure. And in like terms they continue to recommend isolation Of people who may be sick with COVID-19. People have actual symptoms of COVID-19. So that guidance that that that is an approach, isolation and quarantine, which it really just makes common sense. Governor. Back to you. Thank you very much. Lieutenant Governor. Thank you very much Governor. Um I wanna amplify something that you said a little earlier as someone who grew up in Northwest Ohio. I am really excited about The announcement that Peloton is going to make a $400 million 2000 plus jobs in Northwest Ohio and Wood County. I don't think they've disclosed, but I do know that there are very high paying jobs. This is a reassuring of manufacturing wind for us in the sense that, um, you know, Northwest Ohio Ohio great manufacturing state. And we proved once again that we can be the home to a state of the art manufacturing facility and attract this investment. It's especially good news because the states that we were competing against 10 years ago, we were losing jobs to them today. We're winning them. And that's great news for all of us. Were back in the competition on on that front. And we were doing a lot of things during Covid. In addition to managing the pandemic, we were working with jobs Ohio to be very aggressive at creating some opportunities for post pandemic prosperity. And that's exactly what this announcement will be when we, when we met with peloton over at the jobs of high offices several months ago, we promised them, but we would provide a great business environment and frankly deliver on the most important deliverables for them, which was which to them was making sure that we completed construction on time so they could get into production on time and provide the best educated and trained workforce with that strong Ohio work ethic. And I know that we're going to be able to provide those two peloton. Uh, and in return what we get from them, uh, is a state of the art facility. It will be one of the just coolest manufacturing facilities being built in the country. Uh, and thousands of great high paying jobs for the people of Northwest Ohio. And the net benefit is everybody wins the skeletons customers, the people of Northwest Ohio, our state. And it's a very exciting announcement. And I say that because it brings me to again, workforce and job training, which was critical for our ability to land this facility. And we have another round of tech crowd opening on, starting June one through June 30. We have some funds that we're gonna make available for a final round in this fiscal year. All right. Remember that for employers, as your training people, As long you can, you can train people that you want to bring on your payload payroll using the tech cred program. That's tech cred that Ohio dot gov. So far, 1100 businesses have have trained, uh, have received 19,841 technology focused credentials. I was at a business in Northeast Ohio last week where they were, as they had older manufacturing specialists who were leaving the business. They were using it to train the next generation, which is a great idea for what we want to do with it. And uh, and eric ERIC has the slide up there. That's the number for the tech cred credentials that we've awarded so far. Another round June one. Eric, if you could move to the next slide so that people can see the kinds of skills that are most in demand during this process. These are the kinds of certifications that people are seeking. I think there are listed here by the, by the number of money, the amount of money that we've spent on these certificates, they are very, we know very well that these are the kinds of certificates that businesses are hiring. In many cases you can you can do, you can complete these in three months or less. And that is certainly important for people who need to get into the work force to do this quickly. Eric if you could move to the next slide, we also have a program for people who are out of work. This is for people who maybe or maybe you're working at a different employer or maybe they're out of work right now. You can use the I map program. We are awarding credentials up to $3000 to help you earn a credential so that you can take one of the many jobs that are creating. If you look at the latest update in Ohio means jobs, there are more than 99,000 jobs that pay $50,000 a year or more. And this is the place that you can go to earn the skills, the certification credentials that you need to get one of those jobs, it's available for you at no charge. Thanks to the generosity of the taxpayers of the state of Ohio. Uh And uh we want to help you get started on these great career opportunities. Uh We can go to the next slide and you can see similarly, these are some of the credentials that are often being sought under the imap program. Uh they're available. Uh and many of these, I think half of these credentials can be earned 100% online. So you don't have to physically go to a location to earn these credentials. You can work, you can be at work, you can you can or you can work and you can do these after hours. You can do them at your own pace and many in many circumstances. And then finally, as we're looking at students who maybe are making decisions about next fall what they want to do, I want to highlight college credit plus and the value that this is creating for families in the state Back in 2015 and 16, there are only 54,000 people students who took advantage of the college credit plus. Now it's 76,973 Students. They've earned a total in the previous year of 645,075 college credits. That Is equivalent to $165 million dollars in free tuition essentially that they earned because this is at no cost for a high school student. Um, and it's working out very well for the families that are using this. Um, I want to add that there are 2,666 high school students who have earned associates degrees while they're still in high school. So that is, that is gives them a head start. I met many of these young men and women, they're earning college credits. They're earning industry credentials, their work ready when they leave high school, but also prepared to go to college too, if that's what they want to do. So these are all the resources that we are making available. And, and every one of these that I've talked about today is at no cost to the user. We're helping people who are working get up skills so they can, they can get a better job than have more earning power. Uh, and employers of the talent they need with my map, You can be out of a job today, earning those credentials and then moving into a higher paying job tomorrow. And with college credit plus, uh, that's your way to an affordable college degree, free college while you're still in high school. So governor, I'll turn it back to you. Great news on the economic front. We continue to build momentum where, uh, with great employers, state of the art technology and a lot of high paying jobs that we're training people to take, uh, to build that, that goal and vision that we had to give everybody the opportunity to live their version of the american dream. And we're moving forward in. Ohio, thanks governor. All right, we're ready for questions. Governor. First question today is from Mike Livingston, a gondola news service. Hey there, governor, um, some lawmakers who have voiced disapproval about maximilian say they think there's some other factors driving up the vaccination rate. Hey, I guess, what do you make of that suggestion? Do you think there are other factors that plays? You're trying to gauge the effectiveness of this lottery? Thanks. Well, look, all I know is that before we announced it, we were going down and we've been going down, we hit a rough spot in the road, so to speak, basically about the time that we saw johnson and johnson pull back. Uh, that coincided, at least as far as I could see. That coincided with the approximately point in time where we started having, uh, more supply than demand and a lot of people have already been vaccinated. So it was starting to go down. And as we looked at this, we knew that for us to really get out of this pandemic and to move forward, we need to have more people vaccinated and we made the decision to try this and see what it would, what it would do. I'm more than happy, very, very happy with the results and the results. You've seen it. The numbers, the numbers go up. I gave you the 10 counties where we've seen the highest. But it's basically up pretty much everywhere. All demographics. It's up among african americans is white. It virtually every all age, all groups. It is, it is up. So, you know, the the results, the results are there now, you know, well, will it continue to go up? Will continue to be high? I have no idea. But this was just so important to our future as a state, our immediate future in a long term future having more people vaccinated really allows us to get back to normal. And if someone is not vaccinated today, it is still a very dangerous time for that person. And even though we're coming back and even though more and more people are getting vaccinated, what we don't want to be Is in a situation where we just we just continue to see deaths and we continue to see cases maybe the lower number of hospitalizations lower. But we still have, as you can see 700 people Ohioans who are in the hospital because of COVID. So this is still serious. I'm optimistic about our future, but really so much depends on vaccinations. How many of us get vaccinated. It's also important when we get vaccinated. Uh as friend, I traveled around and talked to people around the state and try to understand, you know, why are you being vaccinated today? How come you decided today? And we've had great, great discussions and mostly mostly us listening to them. It's just clear that there's this middle group of people who are not gonna go to do it, not gonna go against it. They might get vaccinated, they may eventually get vaccinated. Um, but just were no, no real great urgency to do that. And by moving them up and be by not only getting more people vaccinated, but by moving someone up to get vaccinated today versus three weeks from now or six weeks from now, we know that that has an impact because that person no longer can get it, no longer can pass it. And so the faster we can do these things, you know, the better, the better off we are. Next question is from Tom Jackson at the Sandusky. Register it on. Yeah. Hi Governor. I just wondered, um, uh, after the sixth appearance excess, uh, the lottery effort or any other incentives you're looking at down the road, is that kind of get as far as incentive to go? I'm your, you're breaking up. I just didn't get it. I'm sorry. Um uh you want to try that again? Tom Governor? A summary of his questions was after the success of maximilian. Would there be any other influence that you would think including moving forward or at the end of incentives? No, tom I don't think we know. I mean, look, we we make about this period of the virus, we make decisions based on the best available information we have at the time. And so we'll just kind of see how this, how this is moving and uh, you know, no, no, no decisions have been made what we do in the future. We've we've outlined that we're going to do this five times so people can be assured that when they sign up and they get vaccinated, they sign up, they're gonna, you know, have uh after Wednesday there'll be 44 more opportunities to get a scholarship and four more opportunities to get dollars. So I think that's about all I can say at this point. Next question is from Jake Zuckerman at the Ohio Capital Journal, Hey governor. Last year, within a month of George Floyd's death, you enroll the police reform package was centered on use of force, body cameras, chokehold recruitment training and some other provisions didn't go anywhere in the legislature. So I'm wondering what went wrong last year. And do you expect a different result this legislative session? Well, I think we will get past this year. I think that, you know, a lot of work has been done on this bill by members of the legislature. A lot of work has been done on this bill, by our administration. It's a bill that is sound, It will really, I think put Ohio forefront of reform in this area. Uh, these are things that I think can be supported are being supported by police there being supported by civil rights groups. They're being supported by community leaders. So I'm optimistic about this bill. Uh former Sheriff Phil plummer from Dayton Area, uh, is one of the main sponsors of this bill. He's worked very hard on the bill, so I'm I'm optimistic about getting it passed. Next question is from Alex Ebert at Bloomberg. Good afternoon Governor. The Palestine announcement today also comes with an estimated performance based tax credit of about $50 million for 15 years. Can you tell me how your administration looks at that sort of credit in light of difficulties? Um, you know, enforcing these things in Lordstown, And can you also talk about whether or not Georgia and north Carolina, we're offering cash nearly that amount. Thank you so much. Yeah, I can't I can't tell you that we can get you that last part of the question. Look, I mean we we make calculations, we make decisions based upon jobs that we feel will be created, the quality of the jobs, how long those jobs will last? And you know, we know that we are competing against other states. And so we obviously take that into consideration. Uh we don't play in every game necessarily or you know, we we may make an offer in everyone, but we have to make a determination every single time about what kind of incentives that we want to put out there, what kind of package that we want to put out there. So it's made on a case by case basis. Uh you know, it involves jobs Ohio, it also involves our development office and and again, it's a it's a case by case decision. Next question is from Andy chow at Ohio public radio and television governor. And uh, where with the Practices that you mentioned earlier when it comes to Children who might be exposed to a positive COVID-19 case? What kind of legal authority do local health departments have In that area going forward after June 2? And do you believe that SB- 22, the bill that was recently passed by the General Assembly might have any effect on that authority? Well, as I recall, the bill says that if you know there's evidence of exposure, direct exposure, um, you know, Health Department, you can do what they need to do. I think the distinctions the legislature made that I contested, but was whether there is direct evidence of direct exposure and my understanding, you know that most of these cases that the superintendents would be talking about most these cases, the Health Department's we're talking about with me this morning. You would have that. So I don't think that this would be in any way against the, you know, what at least is what is in that law has passed by the General Assembly. Next question is from Jeff radical W. S Y X in columbus. The governor Did Jeff mass shootings in Ohio, including the one in Columbus. And and it it seems like it's still strong. Ohio doesn't, you know, move quickly through the legislature. The democrats in the state house began gun violence prevention caucus with their first meeting this morning. A lot of their bills don't seem to move quickly through the state House. So what's being done? What can be done and how much offices on the public ourselves to stop this spate of violence that continues since last year. A lot of conversation where Tito and young sons, well, we've talked with over the years, I've talked with many mayors about violence in their communities and what you find in many, many, many cases is it's the same people who are committing the violence time after time after time. So I don't care what the Legislature calls it, but Mhm. The framework is there not just the framework, but the bill is there in front of the legislature to go after repeat violent offenders and get them out of our communities. They're killing people there, killing innocent people. And it's happening every single week. So again, I'm confident that the Legislature will look at this bill and we'll pass it this year. Um This is, you know, when you get repeat violent offenders and they're found with a gun, that person should go away for a long time because they've been told time and time and time again when they were put on when they, when they were sentenced. When they got out, they were told you cannot own a gun. And so if these repeat violent offenders are found in possession of a gun, we should be able to throw the book at them and get them out of our communities. And so the bill we presented the legislature would do that and it will give judges the authority will give judges the discretion based upon the facts of that case to be able to do that. So I just hope the General Assembly, I trust the general assembly. We'll look at this again because this will, this bill will save lives. There's absolutely no doubt about it. Next question is from john Bedell, A W. H. O. And Dayton. John hi governor. So I talked to a Miami Valley state lawmaker today. Representative Jenna Powell from our can. Um, she told me this morning she's planning on formally introducing her bill this week that would ban state vaccine lotteries. She told me today that vaccine million is quote a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. So first, what do you say to that? And secondly, if this bill were to make it through the legislature and to your desk, would you veto it? Well, I respectfully disagree with her. You know, she has certainly is entitled to her opinions. I think the facts show that once we put this in place, there's been a lot more excitement about vaccines and we've seen vaccines go up and so that will save lives. That will help get us back moving forward at a faster rate. Um, it's just the right, it's just the right thing to do. Weird. We have one weapon at this point to fight this vaccine. Health orders are going off. People are people are tired, They don't want to wear a mask anymore. They don't blame them. And they say, look, we now have a way out of this. And so when someone becomes vaccinated, they cannot cannot pass it. They can't get it. So the more people we have every single day who get vaccinated, it's better for the rest of us, not just for them. You know, they got put a cloak of protection around themselves, but they also help slow it down. And so the more people were up to about 44% or so of the total population will continue to move up. Uh These people cannot get and they cannot pass it. And the more people that can't pass it faster, uh this devil goes away, the faster it goes down. And so that is why uh spending $5 million.6 million dollars to do this is money. Very, very well spent. There was an article, Someone estimated the cost for someone who is in the hospital, who has a bad case of covid is there for a while, It could be a quarter of a million dollars could even be more. So, you know, preventing people from getting it, preventing people from going to a hospital, saves lives, saves money. It's the right thing to do. And for me, you know, not to use any tool that we could use to drive these vaccinations up to drive the virus down. It seems to me would be irresponsible. We didn't know how well it would work, frankly. You know, we were taking a chance. We felt it was a calculated chance. We felt it would work and it has worked. So this is this is why we did what we did. And yeah, I certainly hope that that bill will not have any chance in the legislature. Would you veto such a bill? Well, sure, sure. Next question is from Joshua Oldenburg at Spectrum News Gov. Just to piggyback off what you just said. I mean, you've seen some significant increases here amongst younger people and then obviously the 20-49 range, um, you said you didn't really know what to expect, but if you had any expectations hasn't exceeded it so far or is this about what you thought you'd see? Yeah, the vaccinations that we've received after we announced maximilian have exceeded my wildest expectations. I can't tell you how happy I am about it. And it's been a marked change, A noticeable change. We really turned around from going down and two brought us where we're starting, starting back back up. And we have already, you know, every time someone gets vaccinated, it's like money in the bank. We have already achieved so, so much from the vaccine. Million. I mean, you know, if if we got not one extra one beyond today and that's not going to be what happens, but it certainly would have been worth it. But we're we hope that this interest in it will continue. And I think it will with $1 million dollars coming up every single Wednesday. You know, I think people will continue to be vaccinated. Look what we found was when Fran I went around and listen to people and we continue to do it this weekend. I was in Children's Hospital, uh in Dayton's Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. And there are just people who don't feel strongly about this one way or the other and they may eventually get it. And if we can help them make that decision earlier, uh, it's going to be very helpful to us. So yes, I'm very pleased with what we've seen so far. Next question is from Bennett Wise at the U. K. F. In Dayton. Hi, government of wine. Um, there was a report today from CNN that 25 states and the District of Columbia reached 50% of eligible residents fully vaccinated. Uh, some states have larger populations in Ohio. So do you think the announcement of no mass for fully vaccinated people was misinterpreted and more people won't get vaccinated because they think everything is back to normal? Well, I think it's always a challenge. Um, and I think, you know, I have a responsibility to speak as bluntly as I can. I tried to do this for 15 months. This epidemic is not over with. And I don't know how many times I've said this, but there's just a fundamental difference between someone who is vaccinated and someone who is not vaccinated. If you're vaccinated, you know you're pretty much you can go live your life and people are so excited to get their life back and so excited to see their grandkids and go visit their grandmother and go to a ball game or go to all the different things that people want to do if you're not vaccinated. You know, I think we have an obligation to continue to say if you're not vaccinated, you know, you still run a very significant risk because the virus is still out there. It has not gone away. We're headed in the right direction, but it has not gone away. And my concern is that while things will look good that silently sometimes um and maybe it doesn't make a lot of media, you know, you're going to continue to see people die. And these are people who do not have to die. They do not have to die because we have the vaccine. And so that is what you know bothers me. It should by the every Ohio. And that's why I'm doing everything in my power to get the medical community, you know, to take the information that they give us to get that information out. And that is if your unvaccinated, the danger is still very, very much here. Next question is from laura Bishop at Gannett Ohio. Hi Governor. There's a number of bills that are pending in the General Assembly to weaken Ohio's vaccine requirements, giving people more choices and more privacy given that we're now coming out of this global pandemic. Would you veto bills that would eliminate mandates, eliminate vaccine registries in general? We can vaccine requirements. And do you support removing the reasons of conscience exemption for K- 12 students? Look, you know, we we already have a law, it seems to be working. Um you know, I would have to look at any law that's been proposed or bill that's been proposed and take a look at that and see what what it says. So um you know, that's always what I do, the legislature writes the laws and you know, then, you know, we we weigh in at at some point, so um you know, a lot of bills get introduced and as far as those bills, laura I'm not really not really looked at them, so don't have an answer at this point. You know, we'll see, we'll see what comes up. But I think, you know, what is working, what has worked and what we've lived with in Ohio, As far as the exemptions, as far as people's ability to exempt out of things, it seems to have worked pretty well. So is that what schools are telling you? Because you know, the exemptions, the reasons of the reasons of conscience exemption allows Um parents to get out of vaccinating their kids for K-12 for pretty much any reason. Is that just our schools telling you that that's working okay? Because there's a lot of school districts that have low vaccination rates or their or their vaccination vaccination records are kind of a mess. Okay? Uh Laura will take one bill of time and uh you know, I'll make decisions when these bills come to me. So, you know, but there's a lot of bills out there. Uh I think part of the legislative process, as you know, what makes the legislative process work so well is that there are hearings. People interested people where their school officials or whether their health officials or whether their parents, they had the opportunity to come in and testify. So we should let whatever, you know, bill has been introduced, if there is a process for it and we had hold hearings, you know, that certainly should, should take place. But I'm not gonna, I'm not going to prejudge these bills at this point. Next question is from john London at WLWT in Cincinnati. John hi governor acknowledging the numbers that you've given the success of maximilian that you've talked about within the health community. There are medical professionals who believe when a monetary values attached to a health benefit that long term it serves to undermine that benefit and I can't help but wonder is that something that you discussed uh and considered in deciding whether to try this vaccine. Million idea you said in the long term. It does what undermines what john undermines the health benefit. Especially when it's a vaccine designed to save lives when you attach a monetary value. Look, I just don't believe that. I disagree with that with all due respect to them. You know, we have seen hospitals that have attached incentives for their own employees. Cleveland clinic, for example, has been extremely successful. But other hospitals have as well. And if their employee meets certain metrics, does certain things, then they are economically rewarded. And they can tell you that at some level, here's how much money it's going to take to really move the numbers. And they have a bunch of experience in that. So that is a whole area of economics. It's a whole area of study, but many, many times that is for that employee, it is direct money in their pocket. And so look, we're gonna under the law and following the law, we're going to do what we need to do to encourage people to be vaccinated, understanding though and respecting that there are people in Ohio who do not want to be vaccinated and we respect that, right? And no one should force them uh to be, to be vaccinated. You know, I've said john all along that we really are focused on those individuals who are sort of the middle and they just have not made up their mind that they are going to get it or in their mind, as many of them told us. Yeah, I thought I was going to get it sometime, but you know, just hadn't gotten around to it. And moving that date up for those individuals has great benefit for them and also has great benefit for the for the rest of us. And that's what we're we've been trying to do. Next question is from Adrian Robbins at WcMH in columbus governor. Um my question is looking forward to the next week and a half. We have the health orders lifting and we also have a holiday weekend coming up. These are things that previously were obviously concerned about when it came to The spread of the coronavirus. And our numbers, are you worried that with our vaccine rates remaining below 50 that these two things could trigger a wave of cases? Well, we have something going for us and there's a lot of people vaccinated and that's why we're trying to get more people vaccinated. But you know, for those of you mean we really live in a world of to Ohio's today where the people who are vaccinated and they're safe. Where the people who are not vaccinated and they're not very safe and they are very much at risk. So you know if the same person or if you have two people go to a picnic or let's say go to something event inside um and it's crowded, let's just say it's a bar and two people go once vaccinated once not vaccinated fundamentally different risk. One has great risk. One has little if any risk and I don't know how to explain it any other way. So yes, I'm concerned for Ohioans who have not who have not been vaccinated. Next question is from scott Palace of the senior daily gazette, scott Governor. How are you? Good sir. Good. Hoping you can clarify something for me. I've got a few calls in a couple of emails regarding the vaccine. Million. Um If we're not mistaken, someone is eligible after they've had one dose of the vaccine, is that correct? Yes. If their if their name is drawn, is there any requirement for them to get the second vaccine? The second dose before they would be able to collect? I think there's some people who are maybe confused about that. No. Now look, we would encourage people to get, you know, unless they're getting johnson and johnson, which is one shot and done. If they're getting Madura they're getting Pfizer, we would obviously, you know, encourage them to get the second shot. But no, we're not gonna require them. We're not require anybody to get a shot first or second. So we're not going to do that and we're not going to hold anything over their head. Um You know, you get significant immunity the first shot, but it's much better if you get the second shot. But the reason we did that and the reason we didn't say you gotta have a second shot, I wanted to get as many people in as quickly as they could so let them be eligible. So they would know if you got if I got this first shot today, you know I'm eligible right now. We did not want to have a gap of three weeks or four weeks and we want to encourage everyone to get that first shot. So that's why we did it. And so no no penalty if you win, you win, you get your money or you get your scholarship governor. Next question is the last question for today and it belongs to dandy roses. Ohio and Cleveland. Good afternoon governor. How are you sir? I'm well sure I know this is hindsight. Obviously the it's going to be a million dollars you somewhere and there had a conversation but we've I've heard from a lot of people and I did a facebook post, why not make it 10 $100,000 prices or 20 $50,000 prices or even 40 $25,000 prize Is that it gets a lot more people interested instead of just saying, well my odds still one out of 2.7 million people. But when I find out 40 people are going to win a week, wouldn't that have generated a little bit more peak of interest dan? I don't know. You know the truth is it might have uh it might not have, I just, I just don't know uh this is what we went with uh you know, we're obviously the first state to do the to do this and I know some were watching what some other states are doing, we got a few other ones are doing, and they're all doing kind of different things. Um So I think the main thing was to create an excitement, anticipation, Give an incentive for people to move up the date where they're going to get vaccinated or decide. You know, this was kind of the thing that put them over and decided to get vaccinated. You know, we're very, very happy, you know, when we're seeing what's going on, 16, 17 year olds and uh that's that's that's a good, good thing. So it's it's worked. Um could it have worked better if we'd done it differently? I don't know. And, you know, it's gonna be interesting to see what some of these other states do and what kind of results that that they they have. But, you know, we're going to continue to assess this as we as we move forward, and again, make decisions based upon what we know At the at the time. That's something, you know, we've done for 15 months. It's not always perfect. We don't always get it right, but we try to take the best in information that we have and then make those decisions. So thus far, it's it's worked so well. Thank everybody and hope everybody has a good day. Recording stopped.

Coronavirus latest: 1,098,593 cases in Ohio; 456,053 in Kentucky; 741,053 in Indiana

Updated: 7:27 AM EDT May 26, 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, 1,098,593, 19,748 deaths | Kentucky 456,053 cases, 6,720 deaths | Indiana, 741,053 cases, 13,149 deathsEducational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resourcesCORONAVIRUS IN OHIOWhat are the odds of winning Ohio's Vax-a-Million vaccine lottery?In an attempt to get more people vaccinated, the state of Ohio has launched the Vax-a-Million vaccination incentive program.Five vaccinated adults will win a $1 million prize. Five vaccinated young people – ages 12 through 17 – will win a full-ride college scholarship.As of May 24, 2,758,470 Ohioans registered for the $1 million drawing. So for each drawing, your odds are about 1 in 2.7 million.Additionally, 104,386 young Ohioans — ages 12 through 16 — registered for the scholarship drawing. The odds here are considerably better.Those odds will almost certainly worsen over the next few weeks as more people receive a shot of the vaccine.Remember, five individuals will be chosen to win $1 million over a five-week period. The first winner will be announced May 26, with four consecutive winners announced each Wednesday that follows.Names will be carried over week to week. More names will be added to the pool in the coming days and weeks. To be eligible for that week's drawing, an individual must have at least one dose of a vaccine by 11:59 p.m. Sunday before that week's drawing.After announcing this promotion, the state of Ohio has seen a large increase in vaccinations, Gov. Mike DeWine said.The biggest increase in vaccinations in the 16- to 17-year-old age group: a 94% increase. Among 18- 19-year-olds, there has been a 46% increase. From the 20-49 age group, there has been a 55% increase in vaccinations, the governor said.“We’ve seen increases really across all demographic groups,” DeWine said. “That’s a very, very good thing.”Topping county growth was Athens County, home of Ohio University, with a 144% jump in vaccinations, followed closely by Harrison, Morgan and Seneca counties.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.You can also register by calling a special state hotline, 1-833-4-ASKODH.Below, we're answering all of you questions on Ohio's Vax-a-Million incentive.CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKYKentucky has surpassed another COVID-19 vaccination milestone with more than 2 million residents receiving at least their first shot, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday.Vaccinations rose significantly last week as youngsters 12 to 15 joined other Kentuckians in rolling up their sleeves for the shots, the governor said.So far, more than 23,000 Kentuckians ages 12 to 15 have received the vaccine, he said.“When you think about it, it is just a miracle," Beshear said in announcing the inoculation milestone. "Fifteen months after the first case here in Kentucky, not only do we have effective vaccines, but 2 million Kentuckians already being vaccinated is really exciting.”The virus’s incidence rates are much higher among younger Kentuckians, and “it’s directly associated with whether you’re vaccinated,” he said at a news conference.With the state's pandemic-related capacity restrictions easing in coming days and largely ending next month, the governor urged the unvaccinated to take their turn in getting the shots.“If you are not vaccinated, that comes with a heightened risk for you.” he warned.Starting this Friday, capacity will be allowed at 75% for businesses and events in Kentucky. The state’s coronavirus-related capacity restrictions will end on June 11.Stressing the importance of vaccinations, Beshear noted that 97.5% of Kentucky’s virus cases in March and April, and 94% of virus-related deaths, were among unvaccinated people.“These things work,” he said of the inoculations.Slightly more than 80% of people ages 65 and older in Kentucky have been vaccinated, while more than 60% of people ages 50 to 64 have gotten the shots, according to state statistics. The vaccination rate dropped to 31% among Kentuckians ages 18 to 29.“Again, we need to do better, especially in our younger age groups,” the governor said.Meanwhile, the governor reported 580 new coronavirus cases, the state's lowest number for a Tuesday in three months. He reported five more virus-related deaths, raising Kentucky's death toll to at least 6,725 since the pandemic began. The statewide rate of positive cases was 2.52%.CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANAThe Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday that 525 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 741,053 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.To date, 13,149 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 12 from the previous day. Another 417 probable deaths have been reported to date based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. A total of 3,482,776 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,480,332 on Monday. A total of 10,347,677 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.To find testing sites around the state, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information link.Hoosiers age 12 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine; individuals younger than age 18 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only. To find a vaccination clinic near you, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted at most sites.As of Tuesday, a total of 5,048,216 doses have been administered in Indiana. This includes 2,603,648 first doses and 2,444,568 individuals who are fully vaccinated. The fully vaccinated number represents individuals who have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and those who received the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine.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, 1,098,593, 19,748 deaths | Kentucky 456,053 cases, 6,720 deaths | Indiana, 741,053 cases, 13,149 deaths

Educational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resources

CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO

What are the odds of winning Ohio's Vax-a-Million vaccine lottery?

In an attempt to get more people vaccinated, the state of Ohio has launched the Vax-a-Million vaccination incentive program.

Five vaccinated adults will win a $1 million prize. Five vaccinated young people – ages 12 through 17 – will win a full-ride college scholarship.

As of May 24, 2,758,470 Ohioans registered for the $1 million drawing. So for each drawing, your odds are about 1 in 2.7 million.

Additionally, 104,386 young Ohioans — ages 12 through 16 — registered for the scholarship drawing. The odds here are considerably better.

Those odds will almost certainly worsen over the next few weeks as more people receive a shot of the vaccine.

Remember, five individuals will be chosen to win $1 million over a five-week period. The first winner will be announced May 26, with four consecutive winners announced each Wednesday that follows.

Names will be carried over week to week. More names will be added to the pool in the coming days and weeks. To be eligible for that week's drawing, an individual must have at least one dose of a vaccine by 11:59 p.m. Sunday before that week's drawing.

After announcing this promotion, the state of Ohio has seen a large increase in vaccinations, Gov. Mike DeWine said.

The biggest increase in vaccinations in the 16- to 17-year-old age group: a 94% increase. Among 18- 19-year-olds, there has been a 46% increase. From the 20-49 age group, there has been a 55% increase in vaccinations, the governor said.

“We’ve seen increases really across all demographic groups,” DeWine said. “That’s a very, very good thing.”

Topping county growth was Athens County, home of Ohio University, with a 144% jump in vaccinations, followed closely by Harrison, Morgan and Seneca counties.

You can also register by calling a special state hotline, 1-833-4-ASKODH.

Below, we're answering all of you questions on Ohio's Vax-a-Million incentive.

CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKY

Kentucky has surpassed another COVID-19 vaccination milestone with more than 2 million residents receiving at least their first shot, Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday.

Vaccinations rose significantly last week as youngsters 12 to 15 joined other Kentuckians in rolling up their sleeves for the shots, the governor said.

So far, more than 23,000 Kentuckians ages 12 to 15 have received the vaccine, he said.

“When you think about it, it is just a miracle," Beshear said in announcing the inoculation milestone. "Fifteen months after the first case here in Kentucky, not only do we have effective vaccines, but 2 million Kentuckians already being vaccinated is really exciting.”

The virus’s incidence rates are much higher among younger Kentuckians, and “it’s directly associated with whether you’re vaccinated,” he said at a news conference.

With the state's pandemic-related capacity restrictions easing in coming days and largely ending next month, the governor urged the unvaccinated to take their turn in getting the shots.

“If you are not vaccinated, that comes with a heightened risk for you.” he warned.

Starting this Friday, capacity will be allowed at 75% for businesses and events in Kentucky. The state’s coronavirus-related capacity restrictions will end on June 11.

Stressing the importance of vaccinations, Beshear noted that 97.5% of Kentucky’s virus cases in March and April, and 94% of virus-related deaths, were among unvaccinated people.

“These things work,” he said of the inoculations.

Slightly more than 80% of people ages 65 and older in Kentucky have been vaccinated, while more than 60% of people ages 50 to 64 have gotten the shots, according to state statistics. The vaccination rate dropped to 31% among Kentuckians ages 18 to 29.

“Again, we need to do better, especially in our younger age groups,” the governor said.

Meanwhile, the governor reported 580 new coronavirus cases, the state's lowest number for a Tuesday in three months. He reported five more virus-related deaths, raising Kentucky's death toll to at least 6,725 since the pandemic began. The statewide rate of positive cases was 2.52%.

CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANA

The Indiana Department of Health announced Tuesday that 525 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 741,053 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s dashboard.

To date, 13,149 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 12 from the previous day. Another 417 probable deaths have been reported to date based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record.

A total of 3,482,776 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,480,332 on Monday. A total of 10,347,677 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.

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

Hoosiers age 12 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine; individuals younger than age 18 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only. To find a vaccination clinic near you, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted at most sites.

As of Tuesday, a total of 5,048,216 doses have been administered in Indiana. This includes 2,603,648 first doses and 2,444,568 individuals who are fully vaccinated. The fully vaccinated number represents individuals who have received a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and those who received the single Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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