COVID-19 Alert - February 9

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested: 9,213,579

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

• Total Cases: 925,350

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 3,207

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 4,252

• Total Deaths: 11,793

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 98

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 69

• Total Hospitalizations: 47,853

• Hospitalization Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 181

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 202

• Total ICU Admissions: 6,869

• ICU Admissions Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 22

• 21 Day Reported ICU Admissions Average: 23

K – 12 Progress:

• Governor DeWine announced progress toward the goal of getting K-12 students back into the classroom by March 1. In December, 45% of Ohio students were attending school remotely full-time, but today, less than 15% of Ohio students are still attending classes completely online. Despite this progress, the pandemic has taken a toll on academic progress, as demonstrated in the Ohio Department of Education’s fall 2020 enrollment report.

• The state has asked school districts to work with their communities to help students advance and make up for any learning that may have been lost or delayed because of the pandemic.

• Governor DeWine also requested that school districts design plans to meet the needs of the students in their districts that include ending the school year later than scheduled, beginning the new year early, or even extending the school day. Summer programs, tutoring, or remote options could also be considered. School districts should provide their plans to the public and General Assembly no later than April 1.

• Lt. Governor Husted today also highlighted a provision in the proposed Executive Budget that guarantees student access to a computer science education.

• The “right to access” computer science classes would be defined as the statutory right of a student to be able to take a class either offered directly by their school district or through another provider of the student’s choice. However, the program must be approved through the Ohio Department of Education.

Rent Assistance:

• The Ohio Development Services Agency is distributing $100 million in federal funding to help low-income Ohioans who do not own their own home pay their rent, water, sewer, wastewater, electric, gas, oil and/or trash removal bills.

• Ohioans can apply for assistance with outstanding balances dating back to March 13, 2020, assistance for future rent/utility payments once back bills have been made current, and assistance for future rent and utility assistance for three months at a time.

• Eligible Ohio households must:

  • Be at or below 80% of their county’s Area Median Income (varies by county and size of household);

  • Have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19; and

  • Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

• The funding will be divided among Ohio’s 47 Community Action Agencies.

  • Ohioans can apply for assistance by contacting their local Community Action Agency. A list of agencies can be found at businesshelp.ohio.gov under Home Relief Grants.

Maintenance Covid-19 Vaccine Program:

• This week, Ohio paid out nearly $100 million to more than 110,000 Ohioans receiving traditional unemployment. This represents some extended weeks of benefits plus an additional $300 a week, which were included with the new federal aid.

• Starting this Saturday, more than 155,000 Ohioans will also start seeing benefits from this new federal aid package. This includes Ohioans who recently lost a job as a result of the pandemic as well as Ohioans who continue to be impacted due to the pandemic.

• By the last week in February, all Ohioans impacted by unemployment will have the ability to claim all the weeks and supplements available under the law and receive the benefits they are owed.