COVID-19 Alert - February 11

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested: 1,161,056

• Individuals Vaccinated: (Started): 1,076,415

• Total Cases: 931,437

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 2,806

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 3,892

• Total Deaths: 12,577

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 721

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 98

• Total Hospitalizations: 48,269

• Hospitalization Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 189

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 188

• Total ICU Admissions: 6,908

• ICU Admissions Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 19

• 21 Day Reported ICU Admissions Average: 21

County-by-County Update:

• There was no change in this week's Ohio Public Health Advisory System map. A county-by-county breakdown outlining the presence of COVID-19 in all of Ohio's 88 counties can be found on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System's website.

Curfew Rescinded:

• Governor DeWine rescinded the 11 PM to 5 AM statewide curfew, citing hospitalization numbers lower than 2,500 for at least seven days. It expired at noon on Feb. 11.

• He did it could be reinstated if hospitalizations begin to rise again.

Food Service Stations Re-Opened:

• Self-service food stations in restaurants, bars, banquet and catering facilities, and services can now re-open as long as the following conditions are met:

  • Customers must wear facial coverings while using self-service food stations or in line for self-service food stations. Those unable to wear a facial covering must be served by an employee.

  • Buffet tables/salad bars must be spaced a minimum of 6 feet away from customer seating/tables, and lines must not extend into seating areas.

  • Customer flow at buffet tables/salad bars must move in one direction with a beginning point and ending point, and customers must maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing while in line. Directional signage must be posted indicating where the customer line begins.

  • Hand sanitizer must be placed at self-serve food stations, including at the front of the line and end of the line of buffet tables/salad bars, and used by customers prior to, and after, serving themselves.

  • At least 6 feet of social distancing must be maintained between seated customers and customers in line for a buffet/salad bar and monitored by employees.

  • Serving utensils must be replaced or cleaned and sanitized at least hourly. It is recommended that customers use disposable napkins, tissues, wax paper, etc., when handling serving utensils, and operators of self-service food stations are encouraged to make them available. A trash receptacle should be conveniently located.

  • Use of individually packaged condiments is recommended instead of shared or bulk condiment dispensers.

  • Commonly touched surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized frequently.

  • While in operation, self-serve areas must be continually monitored by staff who are trained in food safety, including monitoring customer hand sanitizing practices at the self-service food station.

  • Food must be protected from contamination, including sneeze guards on self-serve equipment.

  • Signage must be placed at self-service food stations requiring customers to use hand sanitizer before and after serving themselves, and to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing while in line. The signage should recommend that customers use disposable napkins, tissues, wax paper, etc., when handling serving utensils. A sample sign is available on Ohio’s coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/responsible-restart-ohio/Posters-and-Signs (food service operations and retail food establishments may choose to develop their own signage).

  • The order goes into effect on February 11, 2021 at 11:59 PM.

Vaccine Distribution Update:

• Ohio received a total of 214,525 first doses of vaccine this week. A total of 223,025 first doses are scheduled to arrive in Ohio during the week of February 15.

• The federal retail pharmacy program will soon begin allotting doses to Ohio's more than 160 Rite Aid pharmacies. Vaccine distribution will also expand into all 194 Kroger pharmacies.

• Those with specific medical conditions that put them at a very high risk of dying from COVID-19 will be eligible for vaccinations next week.

• Ohioans born with the medical conditions outlined below, or those who were diagnosed in early childhood whose conditions continued into adulthood, will qualify to be vaccinated beginning on February 15.

• Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer at Ohio Department of Health, explained these conditions in more detail. His remarks are available on the Ohio Channel's YouTube page.

• Approximately 12,000 individuals with these severe medical conditions and developmental disabilities have already been vaccinated, and vaccinations of those in this group will continue.

Nursing Home Cases:

• The number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio's nursing homes has dropped more than 77% since late November. This dramatic drop in cases follows Ohio's aggressive efforts to vaccinate residents and staff in Ohio's long-term care facilities.

School Model:

• Governor DeWine shared the latest information on the number of school districts that are physically in school versus those that are fully or partially remote. As a condition to receive priority access to the vaccine, schools were required to commit to full or partial in-person learning by March 1. All but one school district in Ohio have committed to this plan.