COVID-19 Alert - September 15

By the Numbers:

• Individuals Tested:  2,652,164

• 88 counties with at least one case

• Ages range from less than one year old to 109 years of age, with a median age of 41

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

• Total Cases: 139,485 (15,009 of which are health care workers)

• Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 1,001

• 21 Day Reported Case Average: 1,095

• Total Deaths:  4,506

• Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 87

• 21 Day Reported Death Average: 24

• Total Hospitalizations: 14,481 (3,111 of which are in the intensive care unit)

• Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 103

• 21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 73

Update on Testing in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities:

• Governor DeWine and Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy provided an update on testing in nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, adult day centers, and adult day cares, explaining that frequent testing in congregate settings is important to control the spread of the virus. 

• Adult day care and senior centers will open on September 21st. The facilities will test staff every other week and participants if they present symptoms.

• As for nursing homes, outdoor visitation started on July 20th.

• If visitors have questions about protocols or concerns about a facility in their area, they can contact the Ohio Department of Aging. The Department of Aging is working on a dashboard to increase transparency about the status of visitation at facilities across the state.

Ohio To Work:

• JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Development Services Agency will launch a pilot initiative called Ohio To Work which will help connect Ohioans looking for a job to a new job opportunity.

• Ohio To Work brings together employers, nonprofits, educators, and training providers to help Ohioans reskill and restart their careers. Individuals participating in Ohio To Work will be provided a career coach, invited to virtual career fairs, and be connected to employers ready to hire.

• The first Ohio To Work initiative will be launched in Cleveland- Cuyahoga County. Ohioans can learn more at OhioToWork.com.

COVID-19 Civil Immunity Legislation Signed into Law:

• Yesterday, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 606 into law.

• House Bill 606 provides civil immunity to individuals, schools, health care providers, businesses, and other entities from lawsuits arising from exposure, transmission, or contraction of COVID-19, or any mutation of the virus, as long as they were not showing reckless, intentional, or willful misconduct.

• It also shields health care providers from liability in tort actions regarding the care and services they provide during this pandemic unless they were acting recklessly or displaying intentional misconduct.

Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Inductions:

• 20 women and men, representing four branches of the military, will be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame at a virtual ceremony on November 5th. These Ohioans, from 16 counties, have continued to serve the United States as well as Ohio, as business owners, community volunteers, scientists, advocates, engineers, and much more.

• The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was established by Governor George Voinovich in 1992. Governor Voinovich established the Hall of Fame to recognize Ohio veterans’ military service, as well as their service to Ohio and their communities after leaving the military. A total of 895 of Ohio’s Veterans have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  

• The virtual ceremony can be viewed on November 5th at OhioVets.gov.