COVID-19 Alert - May 4, 2020
By the Numbers:
154,290 individuals tested
20,474 total cases, 3,203 of which are health care workers
1,056 deaths
3,809 hospitalizations, 1,090 of which are in the intensive care unit
All 88 counties have confirmed cases
Ages range from less than one year old to 106 years of age, with a median age of 51
State of Ohio COVID-19 dashboard, which now includes 21-day trends: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards
Ohio Re-Opening Updates:
Governor Mike DeWine said the advisory group focused on re-opening restaurants recently finished their work. He will be announcing restaurant safety protocols and an opening date in the next several days. Advisory group members can be found here: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/advisory/Restaurants-Advisory-Group.pdf.
The personal services advisory group, made up of salon and wellness businesses, will also have re-opening recommendations forthcoming. Advisory group members can be found here:https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHOOD/2020/05/01/file_attachments/1441664/Personal%20Services%20Group_Final.pdf.
The Governor reminded Ohioans that some retail stores are now open, by appointment and curbside pick-up. All retail stores can open next Tuesday, May 12, so long as the following guidelines are met: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/Consumer-Retail-Services.pdf.
Testing Priorities Outlined:
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director, Dr. Amy Acton, announced that we have tested a little over 1% of our population, which is 41 people per 100,000. The goal is to test 150 per 100,000, including eventually testing those with mild symptoms and eventually asymptomatic people.
In an effort to ramp up testing, the Governor announced that by next week, the state will have the capability to test 22,000 people per day. He stated that the goal of increased testing is to help identify those who are sick and who live and work in areas where the virus may rapidly spread so we can better protect our loved ones and those who are protecting them.
Since there is not yet unlimited testing, the state set the below testing priorities starting with those who are severely ill, moderately ill, and those critical to keeping Ohioans safe. In addition, the state is prioritizing areas such as nursing homes, developmental centers, treatment facilities, homeless and domestic violence shelters, youth detention centers, and other areas where community outbreaks could occur.
Governor DeWine also noted that increased testing capacity does not replace infection control and prevention practices such as social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and sanitizing high-touch surfaces.
Ohio BMV “Get in Line, Online:”
Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that while the physical sites of all deputy registrar/BMV locations will likely not open until the end of May (on a date to be determined), the administration is working hard to ensure that each BMV is equipped with the “Get in Line, Online” platform, which allows people to make reservations, check in online and advance in the queue without physically waiting in the office. After checking in online, customers have a four-hour window to arrive at the deputy registrar location, check in at a self-service kiosk, and claim their spot in line.
The state began working on this program pre-COVID and 48 BMVs are currently equipped with “Get in line, Online.”
Lt. Governor Husted stated that all deputy registrar locations will have the ability to check in online prior to the physical offices opening. In addition, each BMV is working on a plan to hire back staff and make facility accommodations to ensure social distancing and safety measures.
He also noted as a reminder that the legislature extended BMV related expiration dates while BMVs have been closed, though many BMV services, such as vehicle registration and plate replacement, are already available online at www.oplates.com.
Governor Addresses Protestors:
In response to several incidents, Governor DeWine addressed protestors stating that while people are free to demonstrate against him and his policies, protesters are not entitled to disrespect journalists by ignoring social distancing guidelines or to demonstrate outside the homes of cabinet officials such as Dr. Acton.