COLUMBUS — State officials say Ohio’s newly simplified pandemic restrictions will continue requirements for wearing masks and social distancing in public but will ease rules for large outdoor gatherings such as graduations and festivals.
The state won’t cap the size of such events. But Gov. Mike DeWine says participants would be asked to stay separated in groups of 10 or fewer, rather than merging into one crowd.
Officials say the state’s health orders are being updated and consolidated this week to make them simpler to understand.
The health director says they emphasize the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, staying in smaller groups and sanitizing.
DeWine says he has asked local health departments and providers dispensing the Pfizer vaccine to begin working with schools to vaccinate high school students age 16 and older in hopes of incoculating the students before their summer vacations.
Pfizer produces the only vaccine that had been approved for use in 16- and 17-year-olds.
The state has vaccinated 227,381 individuals, or 17.27% of its population.
There were 2,918 newly reported cases Monday, a two-day total as the state did not report data on Sunday due to the Easter holiday.
There have been 1,026,929 cases of COVID-19 in Ohio.
There were 139 new hospital admissions reported for Sunday and Monday.
-0-
A group representing Asian American neighbors of Ohio’s Republican lieutenant governor says he and his family have agreed to meet with them to discuss their concerns about his recent tweet that referred to the coronavirus as the “Wuhan virus.”
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s office didn’t immediately confirm the meeting with residents of Upper Arlington, which the group said is set for Friday.
His neighbors plan to express how Husted’s words impacted them during a time where there is an uptick of attacks against the Asian American community.
Husted has defended his tweet, saying it was meant to be a criticism of the Chinese government.