COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a new order impacting schools at Thursday's coronavirus press conference.
Ohio school district leaders have been instructed to create a prompt reporting system for when a positive COVID-19 is discovered within their schools.
Although that order has not yet been posted, DeWine did give us a brief look at what could be expected.
Here's a breakdown of what was discussed at the governor's latest presser.
THURSDAY
KEY INDICATORS
On Thursday, there were 1,244 new cases reported. That's compared to the 21-day average of 1,017.
DeWine said this increase is not surprising, as many college students have returned to campus and are moving around more.
Thursday brought 32 new coronavirus-related deaths compared to the average of 22.
Hospitalizations are also up, with 107 new admissions. The 21-day average comes in at just 85.
ICU admissions were down on Thursday, however at 9. The average for that metric is 14.
CASES PER 100,000
DeWine updated his list of all 88 counties in order of those with the most cases per 100,000 people to the least.
For the first time in weeks, a county has overtaken Mercer for the top spot, with that ranking now held by northwest Ohio's Henry County.
DeWine said Henry County climbed up the list after 67 new cases were found in the last two weeks. More than half of those cases were associated with a long-term care facility.
Sandusky dropped out of the top 10, but Erie crept back in at the ninth spot. The county has 156.2 cases per 100,000 people based on data from the last two weeks.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY MAP
Six counties were in the Level 3 (Red) category on Thursday, the lowest since the system's inception.
Locally, both Lucas and Erie have stayed at this level for weeks.
Erie, again, is at 156 cases per 100,000 people, meaning 116 cases have popped up in the county over the last two weeks. DeWine said an outbreak at a long-term care facility has now spread into the community.
Lucas met just three indicators Thursday, but still surpassed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention threshold for a high level of spread. The threshold is 100 cases per 100,000, Lucas was at 110. The county added 173 cases in the last two weeks. The virus has spread between members of the same household and the county continues to have high levels of community spread, DeWine said.
The big news, however, is the fact that 76 counties have stuck at the same alert level, which is the smallest movement between levels the state has experienced.
DeWine did say, however, his team would continue to keep a close eye on each county and monitor the state's colleges and universities as students return to campus.
SCHOOLS
As students return to the classroom, the governor provided guidance for how educators can alert parents, and the public, to cases of the virus.
An order will be issued, requiring districts to create a reporting mechanism for COVID-19 positive results within schools. DeWine compared this to reporting other outbreaks such as lice.
The order requires that schools make information about a positive case publicly available and that leaders notify parents and guardians in writing, including as much information as possible without disclosing protected health information.
The local health department is also instructed to notify the Ohio Department of Health on a weekly basis about newly reported cases in schools, as well as the cumulative case data for students and teachers. DeWine said that this information would be posted every Wednesday on the state's coronavirus website.
The governor said that he believes prompt reporting will help prevent potential further spread among students and staff, but reminded Ohioans that just because there is a case at a school, it doesn't mean the school has done anything wrong. He maintained his stance that he spread you see in the community will be reflected in the schools.
UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY
The University of Findlay marked day nine of classes on Thursday.
President Dr. Katherine Fell joined in on the conference, explaining how the university is holding as many classes as they can in-person, although some classes are hybrid and others are fully online.
Fell said that since the pandemic began, the university has tested 163 people, with 15 of those yielding positive results. There are currently five people in isolation, she said, and 10 in quarantine as a result of contact tracing. She said that all positive cases, past and present, are doing well.
Opening day activities have been adjusted for social distancing, including a drive-in movie night and "Findlay Family" small group opportunities for people to get to know each other.
SPORTS
Lt. Governor Jon Husted made a tweak to the state's sports order on Thursday, specifically involving the "24-hour rule."
Husted changed the verbiage in the order to read that athletes would be limited to one contest in a calendar day. The original order stated that these athletes could not participate in multiple games in a 24-hour period. However, Husted noted that these contests may be within a 24-hour period, even if it is set for the next day; for example a Friday game at 5 p.m., with a Saturday game at 3 p.m. following. While that would be within 24 hours, it would be on the following calendar day and should be allowed.
Husted called the change a matter of logistics.
NURSING HOME TESTING
DeWine said his team began baseline saliva testing at assisted living facilities last week, but some facilities noticed inconsistent results.
He announced that the state has paused this method of specimen collection temporarily as they conduct controlled validation testing to determine why there have been irregularities.
DeWine said the results of their investigation should be available Sunday or Monday, with an announcement close behind on what the next steps will be for testing in the state's long-term care facilities.
TUESDAY
KEY INDICATORS
On Tuesday, there were 844 new cases reported, this is compared to the 21-day average of 1,019.
There were 10 deaths noted, with the 21-day average coming in at 20.
Tuesday also brought 97 new hospitalizations, which is above the average of 87. ICU admissions, however, remained right at the average of 15.
CASES PER 100,000
DeWine also updated his list of all 88 counties in order of those with the most cases per 100,000 people to the least.
Sandusky dropped off the top 10 list after ranking at nine last week, but another local county climbed up on the list.
Henry County jumped up to the fourth spot, with 159.2 cases per 100,000 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that anything over 100 constitutes a high level of spread.
SPORTS ORDER UPDATE
Last week, DeWine issued a sports order for Ohio, allowing both contact and non-contact sports to continue in the state.
The order issued by the state limits the max number of spectators to:
- Outdoor sports venues - 1,500 individuals or 15% percent of fixed, seated capacity (whichever is lower)
- Indoor sports venues - 300 individuals or 15% of fixed, seated capacity (whichever is lower)
The main purpose of permitting spectators at school sports events, DeWine said, is for officials and loved ones of players, coaches, team staff members and other event participants (like marching band and honor guard) to be able to show up in support.
Ideally, he explained, the spectator limit would enable at least two, and perhaps up to four, family members to attend a sports event, provided that the venue is large enough to allow at least six feet of social distancing between groups.
The variance provision in the order allows school leaders to request a higher spectator limit by submitting a plan to their local health dept. and the Ohio Department of Health, explaining why a different capacity is needed and how social distancing will be achieved.
DeWine said that it is the responsibility of the school/venue to monitor and enforce the social distancing requirement, prohibition on congregating among spectators and the other provisions outlined in the sports order.
If school leaders plan to ask for a variance, DeWine says they should ask themselves:
- Is a variance needed for home and away family members to attend?
- Can everyone be socially distanced?
- Can the home school prevent the requested number of spectators from congregating?
The variance cannot be to expand the number of fans beyond family members of both teams, the home band and others who may perform during the event.
COVID-19 CASE REPORTING WITHIN SCHOOLS
DeWine said that an announcement regarding how the state will facilitate reporting COVID-19 cases within schools will be made on Thursday.
He said his team has been working on this, as parents should be aware of these situations, but privacy for the patient should be maintained.
In terms of colleges, DeWine noted that there have been spikes in cases at some of the state's institutions, although those school leaders have assured him the instances are under control.
The governor attributed the spread to people letting their guards down, often with people drinking.
"If you look at the outbreaks on college campuses, a lot of them have come from that type of a party of that type of event," he said.
DeWine said he thinks they are well protected on the campus and in the dorms, but he worries about what students do in their downtime.
BAR RESTRICTIONS
DeWine said his focus as governor is to keep people safe and grow the economy.
For about two weeks now, bars have been required to stop the sale of alcohol at 10 p.m., with drinks off the table at 11 p.m.
When asked if this would continue through the year, DeWine said any further decisions on the matter were "a work in progress."
He said his team would continue monitoring the situation.
GUN VIOLENCE
From Friday through Monday, DeWine said that at least 25 people were shot across Ohio, 13 of them killed, including a 14-year-old boy.
The governor claimed that legislation pending with the General Assembly would address "the serious issue of convicted criminals who have no legal right to possess a gun yet choose to carry them regardless."
DeWine said that those who illegally possess guns are oftentimes the ones who will use them again. He claimed that Ohio’s failure to properly address felons who carry guns and use them to commit crimes allows these individuals to wreak havoc on our communities.
DeWine said he believes this new legislation would give judges better ability to sentence these offenders to prison and to get them off the streets.
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
On Monday, fellow Republican Rep. John Becker said he drafted 10 articles for DeWine's impeachment, accusing him of violating both the state and federal constitutions as well as several sections of the Ohio Revised Code.
The accusations stem from the governor's response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, DeWine defended his actions at Tuesday's conference, saying he doesn't want any rules to continue on longer than necessary.
"We don't want any health order to stay a day an hour or a minute longer than it needs to stay on," DeWine said.
DeWine said that he is an open book and that every legislator has his phone number. He said he has a great deal of respect for the four leaders who have voiced support for his removal.
"Ultimately, this is a once-in-a-102-year pandemic and this is not an ordinary time, and we are going to have to do what we need to do to protect Ohioans," DeWine said.
The governor also noted that almost everything is back open. Currently, there is a 10 p.m. cutoff for liquor and a statewide mask order but DeWine called these restrictions relatively small sacrifices when compared to the gravity of what we are faced with.
"I do not shy away from making decisions, somebody has to make those decisions when you are dealing with a once-in-a-102-year pandemic," he said, "I make those decisions; some people agree, some people disagree, but the thing I can assure you is that each decision is made with the best advice I can get from the health community and its made with my dedication and my commitment to the people of the state of Ohio to keep them safe and keep our economy moving."