COVID-19 Alert - May 24

May 24

By the Numbers:

Vax-a-Million Update:

Governor DeWine announced today that Ohio continues to see increased uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine following the announcement of the Ohio Vax-a-Million promotion.
From May 14 through May 19 as compared to May 7 through May 12, vaccinations in Ohio increased 94 percent among those 16 and 17 years old, 46 percent among those 18 and 19 years old, and 55 percent among those between 20 and 49 years old.
In total, 2,758,470 individual Ohioans have registered for the $1 million Vax-a-Million drawing and 104,386 young Ohioans have registered for the scholarship drawings.
Ohio's first Vax-a-Million drawing will take place at 7:29 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26.
Registration for this Wednesday's drawing ended at midnight but vaccinated Ohioans can register for subsequent drawings at ohiovaxamillion.com or by calling 833-4-ASK-ODH.
Once you register, your entry will be carried over for future drawings; Ohio Lottery will remove duplicate entries.

Vaccine Uptake among Medicaid Beneficiaries:

Governor DeWine called on managed care companies to continue efforts to increase vaccine uptake among Ohio Medicaid beneficiaries.
Right now, the vaccine uptake among Medicaid beneficiaries is 22 percent as compared to a 45 percent uptake among Ohioans overall.
Governor DeWine initially challenged managed care plans to implement new efforts earlier this month, and since then, new efforts include:
- Partnering with pharmacies and providing incentives, such as gift cards, to those on Medicaid who are vaccinated at a pharmacy.
- Incentivizing pharmacists to counsel those picking up prescriptions about vaccinations.
- Working with local health departments, community providers, and faith-based initiatives to help spread the word about vaccination events to those on Medicaid.
- Providing staff to help run vaccination events when needed and providing transportation to make sure people can get to and from the vaccination locations.
- Tailoring strategies to meet people where they are, such as identifying individuals who can’t leave their homes and working with providers to go to these locations to administer vaccinations.
- Working with providers to help them create vaccine opportunities outside of normal business hours.

Isolation and Quarantine:

Governor DeWine today clarified information about isolation and quarantine in regard to Ohio's school students.
Beginning on June 2 and in accordance with CDC guidance, vaccinated children do not have to quarantine or be tested if they are exposed to COVID-19.
Unvaccinated children who are exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine if the exposure took place outside of a classroom setting where masks were required to be worn.
Unvaccinated children should also isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus.
Local health departments should determine if quarantine or isolation should occur.
Individual school districts will decide whether or not to continue masking and social distancing in school settings.

Next Round of Techcred:

Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced today that the next round of TechCred opens on June 1stand closes on June 30 at 3:00 p.m.
Ohio businesses can visit TechCred.Ohio.gov to apply and help their employees earn a short-term, technology-focused credential at no cost.
Not only can businesses upskill their current employees, but they can upskill those they plan to hire as long as they are on the payroll at the time of reimbursement.
More than 1,100 Ohio businesses have used TechCred, creating the opportunity for 19,841 technology-focused credentials to be earned by Ohio employees.

Elle Crader

FY 2022-2023 Biennial Operating Budget Update