On Monday, Governor Mike DeWine held another of his COVID-19 briefings, to address yet another record-breaking day of new cases.
More than 11,800 cases were reported that day, far above any previously set record. Some of those new cases were attributed to delays in lab results from last weekend, but the figure was startlingly high nonetheless.
During that news conference, the Governor again invited the heads of regional medical institutions to speak to the seriousness of the moment we are in right now. They stressed that there are not only concerns over capacity for new patients at their hospitals, but also worries regarding hospital staff being sick with COVID-19.
Tuesday, the state saw another roughly 7,200 ‘official’ new cases, 364 hospitalizations and 98 more deaths were recorded, those numbers may change as we await more test results, and the fear is, of course with those hospitalization numbers going up, deaths will follow.
The Governor noted yesterday that 4,000 patients are in Ohio hospitals with COVID-19, and about a quarter of those are in intensive care units. Overall, Ohio has recorded 371,908 total virus cases, and sadly 6,118 deaths.
He also noted Ohio is scheduled to get its first batch of the Pfizer Pharmaceutical coronavirus vaccine around December 15th, but not many.
This of course is all happening with Thanksgiving being tomorrow.
What's usually a time for celebration; this year, is a cause for concern, as travel and gatherings could aid in spreading the coronavirus.
Advising against Thanksgiving gatherings has been another repeated message of the Governor's briefings, but not everyone will heed the call.
Today on the program, we'll begin with an update from Karen Kasler on the Governor's office pronouncements, and other happenings in Columbus.
Later we'll hear about what work is being done at The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, with the holiday season beginning.
We'll also chat with an area chef and restauranteur on how the pandemic has affected business this year, and what the industry's Thanksgiving plans are.
Finally, I'll be joined by columnist Connie Schultz, who just published a piece on why we should protect our loved ones, by staying home this Thanksgiving.
- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau
- Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO, The Greater Cleveland Food Bank
- Jeremy Umansky, Chef and Owner of "Larder"
- Connie Schultz, Author and Columnist
"This Thanksgiving Choose Love"
https://www.creators.com/read/connie-schultz/11/20/this-thanksgiving-choose-love
