COVID-19 Alert - September 8
By the Numbers:
Individuals Tested: 2,442,697
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: 131,992 (14,349 of which are health care workers)
Case Increase in Last 24-Hour Period: 656
21 Day Reported Case Average: 1,051
Total Deaths: 4,298
Deaths Reported in Last 24-Hour Period: 22
21 Day Reported Death Average: 20
Total Hospitalizations: 13,967 (3,042 of which are in the intensive care unit)
Hospitalization Increase in last 24-Hour Period: 80
21 Day Reported Hospitalizations Average: 73
Free or Reduced-Price Meals:
· Thousands of Ohio children, who qualify for free or reduced-price meals but are currently learning remotely, will soon receive additional money to purchase nutritious foods through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program made possible by the Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
· The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will issue the second round of benefits later this month to eligible children. Ohio previously issued more than $250 million in P-EBT benefits to more than 850,000 students through the program in the spring.
· Parents do not need to apply to receive these benefits. The benefits will be automatically loaded onto existing Ohio Direction cards or a pre-loaded card will be sent in the mail.
Sports Spectator Leeway:
· The Ohio Department of Health granted a spectator variance to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio taking place September 11-13, 2020.
· Attendance will be limited to 6,000 spectators, and social distancing and masks will be required in accordance with state health guidelines. The variance for Mid-Ohio was granted, in part, due to its unique, large outdoor facility that can accommodate social distancing.
· Additionally, Governor DeWine previously announced 6,000 spectator variances for the Browns and Bengals for two upcoming games each.
Rumor Clarification on “FEMA camps”:
· In response to rumors surrounding Ohio's latest non-congregate sheltering order, Governor DeWine stressed that there are no orders in Ohio to create "FEMA camps" to quarantine citizens against their will.
· The order, which was first issued on March 31 and then renewed on April 29 and August 31, creates a funding mechanism to allow for federal reimbursement for communities that choose to offer alternate locations for people to safely isolate or quarantine outside of their homes. If a citizen chooses to recover in a quarantine housing location, others in the household can remain at home and unexposed. This option has been used in a handful of cases in Ohio.
Get in Line, Online:
· The Ohio BMV was awarded the Customer Convenience Award for their Get in Line, Online virtual queuing system, which allows a customer to secure a spot in line at the agency without actually being physically present. Once customers arrive to check-in, they move to the front of the line with minimal wait time.