Governor DeWine Says Ohio Close To COVID-19 Pandemic Finish Line: Reporters Roundtable
The governor says what we have been doing in Ohio to combat the pandemic is working and if we stay the course we can reach the finish line.
Governor Mike DeWine delivered a rare evening address last night, short and mostly sweet, saying we are close in Ohio to lifting Covid-19 restrictions as long as we stay the course.
A year ago the Governor cancelled the Arnold Classic in Columbus because of concerns over the coronavirus which was beginning to emerge. March 2020 changed everyone's lives and here we are, still in the battle, a year later.
Governor DeWine says that if Ohio can get its COVID-19 numbers down to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks, he will lift his health orders entirely.
On March 9 2020, Ohio confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 and the Governor declared a state of emergency.
Over the past year the governor has seen a number of legislative efforts to rein in his executive power during the pandemic and undue health orders.
Another challenge came this week from former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder who remains in the Ohio House despite being under investigation for a bribery scandal connected to the passage of House Bill 6. He wants to override DeWines health orders now.
Governor DeWine again last evening mentioned the progress Ohio has made toward getting its students back into classrooms. Vaccinating teachers and school staff has been key in that regard.
Cleveland Metropolitan Schools missed the governor’s March 1 deadline to get students back into class in some form. But, after being chided by the Governor the district moved up its plans to begin the process to March 8. Last evening, the Cleveland Teachers Union voted to keep teaching remotely despite the district’s plan to have them return to buildings.
This week Ohio took a huge jump in the number of vaccines allocated to the state. The federal government allocated more than 440,000 doses of vaccine for Ohio including the newly authorized vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. To keep pace with the expanding allocation of vaccines, Ohio this week also expanded its eligibility for the vaccine.
Anna Huntsman, Health Reporter/Producer, Ideastream
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV
Ken Schneck, Editor, The Buckeye Flame
