COVID-19 Alert - December 30

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested: 7,624,333

• 88 counties with at least one case

• Ages range from less than one year old to 111 years of age, with a median age of 43

• State of Ohio COVID-19 dashboard: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/dashboard

• Total Cases: 690,748 (43,336 of which are health care workers)

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 8,178

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 8,126

• Total Deaths: 8,855

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 133

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 79

• Total Hospitalizations: 38,002 (5,801 of which are in the intensive care unit)

• Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 366

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 348

County-by-County Update: 

• All regions of the state have at least 1/5 of their ICU patients who are positive for COVID-19. In most of the regions, 1/3 or more patients in the ICU are COVID positive.

Statewide Curfew Extended to 1/23:

• Governor DeWine announced another extension of the 10 PM to 5 AM curfew until Saturday, January 23, stating that the extension is the result of COVID-19 numbers' being in flux rather than declining, as well as uncertainty of the effect of the holidays.

• As a reminder, the curfew does not apply to those going to and from work, or those who have an emergency or medial need. Further, the curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries, carry-out food, or going to the pharmacy. However, serving food and drinks within an establishment must cease at 10 PM.

Governor Urges Speedy Vaccine Execution:

• The Governor implored hospitals to do everything they can to ensure that vaccinations are administered within 24 hours and report that information back to the state. He noted, although we cannot control how fast the vaccine comes to Ohio, we have a moral imperative to get it out as soon as possible.

• Moreover, he indicated that if you are eligible to get the vaccine and do not take it, then it may be a while before it could become available to you again due to its scarcity.

Updated Guidance to Schools:

• Earlier this year, the Governor pledged to look at the rate of COVID-19 transmission in schools. Preliminary results from the Ohio Schools COVID-19 Evaluation Team found that if students in class are masked and distanced, they did not have an increased risk of catching the virus from a nearby positive student.

• As a result of this new data, the state is changing its guidance to no longer recommend that students who have been exposed to another COVID positive student quarantine, so long as all students have been wearing masks and the exposure took place in a classroom setting. Schools should continue to require quarantining of students if masking and distancing protocols were not followed.

• This updated guidance does not apply to after school activities, including sports.

$12 M Available in Bar & Restaurant Assistance Fund:

• More than 5,100 eligible on-premises liquor permit holders have not applied for state assistance through Ohio’s Bar & Restaurant Grant Program. Of the $38.7 M originally set aside to support liquor permit holders, more than $12 million still not been claimed.

• Each active on-premises liquor permit (as of 10.23.20) is eligible for $2,500 per location. This funding is not competitive, and the money does not have to be re-paid.

• Certain movie theaters, bowling alleys, sports and concert venues, and even some hair salons are eligible for this funding if they have a liquor permit.

• Visit http://businesshelp.ohio.gov to apply.