COLUMBUS, Ohio — Thursday marked the first day kids in Ohio as young as 12 were able to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said children's hospitals and pediatricians are working with local health departments to get the vaccine out efficiently to the community.
As of Thursday, 42% of Ohio's population had received the first dose and 36% were fully vaccinated.
The number of cases per 100,000 people has continued to drop in the state, with 119.9 reported Thursday from over the previous two weeks.
DeWine initially set a requirement for the state to reach an average of 50 cases per 100,000 people in order for all pandemic health orders to be lifted. But, in a surprise press briefing Wednesday, DeWine changed the goalpost, setting a date of June 2 instead.
"Ohioans have done a fantastic job protecting each other," DeWine said.
HEALTH ORDERS TO BE LIFTED
On Wednesday night, the Republican governor announced all coronavirus-related health orders in the state will be lifted on June 2, meaning Ohioans will no longer be required to wear facial coverings and follow social distancing guidelines. It also puts an end to capacity restrictions at indoor and outdoor events.
Safety guidelines will remain in effect for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, DeWine said, adding the outcome will depend on continued data from the state.
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HOW THE OHIO VAX-A-MILLION LOTTO WORKS
DeWine also announced the creation of two incentives in the hopes of encouraging Ohioans to step up and get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Ohioans 18 and older who have taken at least one of their vaccine shots have the chance to win a prize of up to $1 million in the "Ohio Vax-a-Million" lottery. The drawings start May 26 and there will be five drawings. Winners will be announced at 7:29 p.m. each time.
The pool of names for the “Ohio Vax-a-Million” drawing will be derived from the Ohio Secretary of State’s publicly available voter registration database.
The governor said Wednesday that a webpage will be made available for people to sign up for the drawings if they are not in a database the state is using.
The Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawings, and the Ohio Lottery will conduct them. The money will come from existing federal Coronavirus Relief Funds.
To be eligible to win, Ohioans must be at least 18 years of age or older on the day of the drawing. You must be an Ohio resident. And, you must be vaccinated before the drawing.
HOW OHIO FREE COLLEGE VACCINE LOTTO WORKS
With Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine getting the OK from both the CDC and FDA for emergency use for ages 12 and up, Ohio is now working to encourage young people ages 12 to 17 to get vaccinated.
The state is offering a drawing in which the winner will receive a free full-ride scholarship to a state of Ohio university.
On May 18, the governor said an electronic portal will be opened up for young people who have been vaccinated to be able to register for the drawing.
On May 26 the state will announce the first winner of a drawing of all Ohioans 17 years old and younger who have been vaccinated. That winner will receive a full, four-year scholarship to any state of Ohio university. This will include tuition, room, board and books.
This drawing will be held five times on five straight Wednesdays, each time randomly selecting one student to receive the full, four-year scholarship. These winners will also be announced during a one-minute slot at 7:29 p.m.
PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
DeWine announced Thursday that his administration intends to inform the US government of their intention to remove the state from the federal pandemic unemployment assistance program.
Currently, unemployed workers receive an additional $300 per week in benefits.
DeWine said that businesses are coming back, but employers are struggling to find workers and those who are working are having to stay on the clock for longer hours.
The governor said the additional $300 in unemployment assistance was always intended to be temporary. The plan is to end PUA in Ohio on June 26.
The unemployment rate in the state was at 4.7% Thursday, lower than the national average of 6.1%.