COLUMBUS – As state health leaders warn of another surge in COVID-19 cases due to the so-called delta variant of the coronavirus, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Wednesday signed a bill into law that forbids public schools and colleges from requiring individuals to receive vaccines not granted full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The legislation aimed at the coronavirus vaccine also prohibits individuals who don’t receive the vaccine from being denied the chance to participate in school activities.
DeWine signed the bill without comment though, on Tuesday, he said it’s important for the FDA to switch coronavirus vaccines from emergency use authorization to full approval as soon as possible.
He says the vaccine’s emergency use status is contributing to vaccine hesitancy in Ohio.
Statehouse Democrats say the law will limit the ability of schools and universities to plan for the return to classes and to implement safety measures like mask requirements for unvaccinated students.
“This bill puts political self-interests ahead of +good public health policy,” Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said, adding that the bill “further undermines trust in science and a vaccine that has saved the lives of thousands of Ohioans.”
“The decision to sign this bill makes it more difficult for schools and universities to keep kids safe. We don’t need laws that undermine public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and the rigorous science that has saved millions of lives,” Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) said.
Health officials warn of delta variant surge
Health officials are telling Ohioans that the delta variant is on the rise and could become the dominant strain of the virus in the state.
All the more reason to get vaccinated, they say.
“The good news is that our current vaccines are effective against the delta variant. The bad news is that, if you’re not fully vaccinated, you’re at real risk of contracting the delta variant, including real risk for serious illness, including hospitalization and death,” said the medical director of the Ohio Department of Health, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, who describes “two Ohio’s”: one where residents are vaccinated and another where unvaccinated Ohioans are vulnerable to the new variant.
Although the state’s website still reports fewer than 50% of Ohio’s total population has gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Andy Thomas, of the OSU Wexner Medical Center, says the state is actually closer to a 60% vaccination rate among those age 12 and over who are eligible to receive the vaccine.
Unemployment claims decline
The number of Ohioans filing initial claims for jobless benefits last week fell to a pandemic-era low of 9,953, an indication that the pace of layoffs is slowing.
The number of those filing for first-time benefits dropped 8.6% from the week that ended on July 3, according to data provided to the U.S. Department of Labor by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The total number of Ohioans receiving unemployment benefits during the week that ended July 10 was 397, 355, an 8.4% drop from the week before.
US jobless claims drop to 360,000, a new pandemic low, as layoffs further slow with economy strengthening.
Welcome back to downtown Columbus
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and community leaders are throwing out the welcome mat for workers, shoppers and restaurant goers to return to downtown Columbus
Ginther will be joined by business and arts leaders as they tout the post-pandemic recovery in downtown Columbus and kick off a new campaign to welcome central Ohio residents back.
The press conference outlining the effort will take place during weekly Food Truck Food Court at Columbus Commons, a regular event that features live music, free carousel rides, free donuts from Donna’s Delicious Dozen for the first 250 attendees and a walk-up vaccination site.