COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that adult day centers could reopen with restrictions in late Sept. during his latest coronavirus press conference Thursday.
The official order has not yet been released, but DeWine laid out a number of guidelines these facilities should begin to consider.
The governor also updated the state's Public Health Advisory map, announced a new service through the DMV and touched on the topic of gun violence in the state.
Here's a breakdown of everything discussed at Thursday's COVID-19 presser.
KEY INDICATORS
There were 1,122 new cases of coronavirus reported on Thursday, which is above the 21-day average of 1,066.
Coronavirus-related deaths are hovering right at the average, with 22 reported on Thursday compared to 23.
Hospitalizations were down, with 86 in the last 24-hour period. The 21-day average is 92.
ICU admissions are sticking around the average as well. There were 17 new admissions reported Thursday, compared to the average of 15.
CASES PER 100,000
DeWine updated his list of counties in order of those with the most cases per 100,000 people.
Locally, Sandusky and Erie rank within the top 10. On Tuesday, Sandusky was in the number seven spot but has since climbed to the sixth spot.
This is Erie County's first instance in the top 10, coming in at nine.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY MAP
Thursday brought an update to the state's Public Health Advisory map.
There are now only nine counties at Level 3 (Red), which is the lowest since the system was first created.
Locally, both Lucas and Erie counties remain in the red, although Lucas is teetering on the edge of dropping to Level 2 (Orange).
DeWine reported Lucas had 102 cases per 100,000 people, which is just above the CDC threshold, but much lower than where they were two weeks ago, coming in above 150. The CDC states that anything over 100 cases per 100,000 people indicates a high level of spread. The governor also said that the county went from an average of 22 outpatient visits on Aug. 11 to 29 on Aug. 16.
Erie County meets only two indicators but is still well above the CDC threshold with 129 cases per 100,000 people. The county saw 96 cases in two weeks. There was a large outbreak at a long-term care facility. But, DeWine noted that there continues to be spread of the virus throughout the community.
WOOD COUNTY
While Wood County remains in the Level 2 (Orange) category of the Public Health Advisory map, DeWine mentioned a minor outbreak stemming from a sleepover.
A sports team, that he did not specify, allegedly had a sleepover at a teammate's house. After that gathering, nine people tested positive for coronavirus.
ADULT CARE CENTERS
DeWine announced that adult day centers and senior centers may open at a reduced capacity beginning on September 21, as long as they are able to meet a number of health and safety standards. Specific guidelines will be issued soon online. However, DeWine did give a bit of insight into what leaders at each facility should consider:
- Case status in the surrounding community
- The county's public health advisory level
- The case status in its facility
- The facility's staffing level
- Access to testing
- The ability of participants to wear facial coverings
- Access to personal protective equipment
- Local hospital capacity
DeWine also laid out a number of rules these facilities will have to follow, including:
- Limited capacity
- Limit entrance to the building to only those necessary to the safe operation of the program
- Screen participants of staff and keep a daily log
- Conduct baseline and repeat testing of staff and participants
- Require staff and participants to wear face coverings with minimal exceptions
- Use cohorting of participants when possible and alter schedules to reduce contact
- Implement CDC guidance for cleaning and sanitization.
TESTING IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
A statewide testing initiative for Ohio’s more than 765 assisted living facilities is now underway, DeWine said Thursday. Baseline saliva testing will be offered to all assisted living staff and residents at no cost to the facilities.
The tests can be self-performed or performed with assistance, under the observance of licensed medical staff. The tests themselves are minimally invasive and provide reliable results in about 48 hours upon the lab’s receipt, DeWine said.
The governor said his administration's focus has been and remains on "protecting Ohioans while navigating this pandemic."
To achieve this, DeWine claimed the state must have 100% participation of all assisted living facilities across Ohio. Therefore, he said, an order will be issued soon requiring all facilities to participate.
VOTING
Lt. Governor Jon Husted reminded Ohioans to request an absentee ballot if they need one. To do so, Ohioans can call their county board of elections or go to the Secretary of State's website. Additionally, this election, Secretary of State Frank LaRose will be sending absentee ballot request forms to all registered voters after Labor Day, so Ohioans who are registered can simply wait until then as well.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5.
Ohioans can also track their ballot as well as their ballot request form after it is sent through the mail or utilize their county's board of elections drop box.
For those who plan to vote in-person, DeWine said Thursday that he has asked the Department of Administrative Services to work with LaRose to ensure that the 88 boards of elections have the PPE resources they need to execute early in-person voting and voting on election day.
BMV
Husted announced Thursday that the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has implemented a new print-on-demand temporary tag available online here. The service allows Ohioans to print a temporary tag without going into a Deputy Registrar.
GUN VIOLENCE
DeWine noted a number of violent deaths throughout the state.
He specifically mentioned a recent case in Toledo in which a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed in central Toledo and an 8-year-old girl who lost her life in Akron.
"Murders overall are up in Ohio. The majority of victims are African American. We know from law enforcement that many of Ohio’s shootings are committed with handguns that are stolen or illegally obtained and used by convicted criminals who have no legal right to have them," DeWine said in a tweet.
The governor said that his administration has legislation pending with the General Assembly, aimed to help keep those most likely to commit gun violence off the streets.
He called on the General Assembly Thursday to look at that legislation.
TUESDAY
KEY INDICATORS
On Tuesday, there were 861 new cases of coronavirus reported. That's compared to the 21-day average of 1,116.
In that same time frame, there were 39 coronavirus-related deaths. The 21-day average for the state is 23.
Both hospitalizations and ICU admissions were up on Tuesday as well with 117 and 19 reported respectively. Those averages are at just 96 and 15.
CASES PER 100,000 PEOPLE
DeWine updated his list ranking all 88 counties in order of those with the most cases per 100,000 people to the least.
The good news for northwest Ohio is that both Lucas and Seneca counties have dropped out of the top 10 list. This is after Lucas was initially in the number two spot before dropping to fourth and fifth and now out of the top 10 completely.
Seneca started in the number 10 spot before climbing to ninth and then dropping out of the top counties.
However, Sandusky County has crept up on the list, with the highest number of cases per 100,000 people, coming in at seventh place.
SPORTS
DeWine announced Tuesday that all sports, both contact and non-contact, may move forward for the fall under a number of safety guidelines.
The order is focused primarily on high school athletics. However, DeWine said it will apply to college sports as well, although a number of leagues have already opted to postpone the fall sports season.
"We know that sports, particularly contact sports, contributes to the risk of the spread of COVID-19. On the other hand, we know that sports matters and makes a difference. It provides discipline, order, and structure to the lives of student-athletes," DeWine said.
The governor said the state's sports guidelines have been formed through consultation with parents, schools and the Ohio High School Athletics Association (OHSAA). A link to the full order will be provided here once it is made available.
The goal of this order, DeWine said, is to provide options.
"I think by what we are doing today is we are empowering the students, we are empowering the parents and we are empowering the schools," DeWine said.
The governor asked for school leaders and parents alike to consider the data and make the best decisions for their students based on what the situation is in their community.
DeWine said that the state's declining positivity rate, which is now around 4.5%, played a big role in this decision. However, he said this is for the entire state, and that some rural areas are seeing positivity rates two to three times as high.
SPECTATORS
One restriction he noted right off the bat, was on the number of spectators, which came as no surprise after comments he made last week noting this limitation.
The focus, DeWine said, is to make sure athletes can safely play. However, he acknowledged the importance of having someone there to support.
Under the state's order, spectators won't be allowed unless they are someone very close to an athlete, which will be left up to the school to determine. DeWine also mentioned that there will be allowances for participants in the marching band, drill team, etc. to have someone close to them there to support as well.
DeWine called on the families of student-athletes to inspire them to stay safe and healthy, making good decisions to ensure the season may continue.
DR. JIM BORCHERS ON COVID-19 AND THE HEART
Dr. Jim Borchers, a specialist in sports medicine at Ohio Wexler Medical Center and a former Ohio State University football player, joined in on Tuesday's conference, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on athletes.
Last week, Dr. Curt Daniels discussed the risk of myocarditis, but Borchers focused on the risk of sudden cardiac death. Borchers acknowledged, however, its occurrence isn't common.
Borchers said that medical experts are continuing to look at how COVID-19 impacts the heart. Some people who test positive for the virus may also test positive for myocarditis, which can be a cause of sudden cardiac death.
The best way to combat this is prevention, Borchers said. The best thing Ohioans can do is provide a clean and healthy environment for their athletes.
When asked if he would allow his children to play contact sports this fall, Borchers said it really would depend on the environment. If there is a high rate of spread with limited testing, he would be hesitant. However, in areas with lower rates of spread, he would feel more comfortable.
PERFORMING ARTS
DeWine apologized for leaving out conversations about the performing arts up until this point. He said that orders will be coming in the next couple of days regarding this sector of Ohio.
"What we do know is what the science tells us, and obviously people project, so we are going to have to work around that," DeWine said.
One thing he did mention as a possibility, is moving the audience back further from the stage. Although no definitive announcements have been made thus far.
WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, marked 100 years of women's suffrage.
On that date in 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
Last year, DeWine signed SB30, creating Ohio’s Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to commemorate the major milestone. However, DeWine noted that the pandemic has curtailed Ohioans' ability to have in-person events.
Despite COVID-19, DeWine encouraged people Tuesday to learn more about the history of the monumental right. He suggested utilizing the Ohio History Connection and Ohio Find It Here, which created a women's history road trip, which you can check out here.