COLUMBUS – UPDATE: Gov. Mike DeWine in Thursday announced that when Ohio gets down to 50 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents for two weeks, all health orders will come off.
Cases per 100,000 people for a two-week period is a standard measure used since early in the pandemic, he said.
Nearly 700,000 additional Ohioans can begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.
Those people age 60 years and older became eligible to receive the shots Thursday as the state’s vaccination program advanced to Phase 2.
Columbus Public Health stopped accepting appointments for Phase 2 vaccinations by Thursday morning but Franklin County Public Health was still accepting registrations for a vaccination clinic scheduled for March 9.
The clinic will be open to those that are in Tier 1B, Tier 1C and Phase 2 to receive their first doses of the vaccine. Details can be found at the agency’s website.
“Coping With Coronavirus: Find out how the latest information on vaccinations in your area
The state had vaccinated about 8.2% of the state’s population as of Wednesday.
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The Ohio House on Wednesday approved a bill that authorizes more health care providers to administer the vaccine, including podiatrists, pharmacists and pharmacy interns.
The bill, which also allows temporary licenses to be issued to registered nurses and license practical nurses and extends energy efficiency programs that help lower-income Ohioans, now heads to the Senate.
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A spokesman says Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has no immediate plans to lift the statewide mask mandate despite recent decisions to do so in Texas and other states.
Press secretary Dan Tierney said Wednesday that even people who have been vaccinated could still transmit a weakened form of the coronavirus to someone at risk of a serious case of COVID-19.
Tierney said Ohioans still need to wear masks and socially distance until the state reaches a critical mass of people who have received the vaccine.
The governor put the current mask order in place in July.
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This week, DeWine marks one year of fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
It was 12 months ago Wednesday that he laid down strict attendance limits on the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, which brings thousands of people to the capital city.
At the time Ohio didn’t have a single reported case of COVID-19.
That and DeWine’s subsequent order to close schools won him early praise for aggressive action to fight the coronavirus.
But the good mood didn’t last long and now the Republican governor finds himself fending off sharp criticism from a conservative party flank and facing the possibility of a primary next year.
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Organizers of another central Ohio event have announced plans to resume this year.
The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio on Thursday announces the return of the BIA Parade of Homes for three weekends (Sept. 25 – Oct. 10).
This showcase of new homes has been a staple in central Ohio for nearly 70-years
This year’s edition will feature a variety of homes in different price ranges and product types throughout the region.
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The state reported 2,022 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the first year of the pandemic to 972,605l.
There were 110 new hospital admissions.
Data is incomplete due to technical issues with the state’s coronavirus website.