Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Below are the updates from Governor DeWine’s press conferences. The next press conference is currently scheduled for Thursday April 22nd at 10:00am.
Here’s the news from Wednesday:
- Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
- 891,181 confirmed cases
- 167,214 probable cases
- 1,058,395 total cases
- 55,323 hospitalizations
- 19,033 Ohio resident deaths
- 19,024 deaths in State of Ohio
- 7,682 ICU admissions
- 200 cases per 100,000 Ohioans (updated weekly on Thursdays and can be found HERE)
- More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.
VACCINATIONS AND VIRUS SPREAD
- As of today, 38 percent of Ohioans have received at least one coronavirus vaccination shot.
- Although cases have plateaued, virus variants are more contagious among those who have not been vaccinated.
- Dr. Vanderhoff also warned that Ohioans should not count on herd immunity until more people are vaccinated.
- The vaccine is now more widely available and there is no shortage. Ohioans can visit gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov to look for open appointments or call 833-4-ASK-ODH to book an appointment over the phone.
- Ohio's mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland is also now booking appointments for next week.
- First doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be offered. Appointments for the mass vaccination clinic can be booked via the aforementioned methods.
NEW PSAs
- Governor DeWine introduced three new public service announcements today that encourage Ohioans to get vaccinated.
UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM UPDATES
- In an effort to continually improve Ohioans’ experiences with the Ohio Unemployment Office, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Interim Director Matt Damschroder shared several action updates.
- The ODJFS team has been working with the Public-Private Partnership (P3 Team) to make improvements to the call center, which now has an average call handle time of less than 10 minutes (the lowest since the pandemic started).
- There is also real progress on the claims backlog.
- In addition, new tools have been implemented to enhance fraud detection including additional identity verification requirements and new IT measures, such as Experian and LexisNexis technology, to verify the identity of unemployment applications.
LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM EFFORTS
- Today, Governor DeWine outlined law enforcement reform efforts made in the past year, efforts that are pending, and efforts that will be announced in the near future.
- Governor DeWine took several executive actions regarding law enforcement reform last year, including:
- On June 17, 2020, Governor DeWine ordered every cabinet agency to review use-of-force policies and ban the use of choke holds unless deadly force would be otherwise authorized.
- Governor DeWine ordered the Ohio State Highway Patrol to begin outfitting troopers with body cameras in addition to dash cameras. The purchase of these body cameras is underway.
- Governor DeWine established the Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment within the Office of Criminal Justice Services.
- Governor DeWine ordered the Ohio Community Police Collaborative to develop a standard for law enforcement's response to mass protests. That standard has been adopted.
- In his proposed budget that is now before the Ohio General Assembly, Governor DeWine recommended:
- $10 million in grant money to assist local police agencies to buy body cameras.
- $1 million in grant funding to support local police agencies' innovative initiatives to recruit women and minorities into law enforcement careers.
- Governor DeWine also announced today that legislation will soon be introduced by State Representative Phil Plummer that will increase accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
- The bill is expected to:
- Establish a peace officer oversight board similar to oversight boards in other professions
- Establish a use-of-force database
- Establish an officer-discipline database
- Require the independent investigation of officer-involved critical incidents
- Establish an independent, sustainable funding source for law enforcement training in Ohio
- Many of these proposals were recommended by Governor DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost in June.
- The forthcoming bill was developed with the help of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office; veteran law enforcement officers; organizations, including the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association; and in consultation with civil rights leaders and activists.
STATEWIDE LITTER CAMPAIGN
- Governor DeWine announced a new statewide litter campaign that will be led by the Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Department of Transportation.
- The campaign will prioritize and educate Ohioans on how a little litter contributes to the bigger, statewide problem.
- Part of the campaign will include various events held by the agencies and engagement with partner organizations, including a spring litter summit.
- Additional information about the campaign is forthcoming.
CASE DATA & VACCINE INFORMATION
Ohioans can apply for unemployment benefits online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at unemployment.ohio.gov. It is also possible to file by phone at 877-644-6562 or TTY at 888- 642-8203, Monday through Friday 7AM to 7PM, Saturday 9AM to 5PM, and Sunday 9AM to 1PM. Employers with questions should email UCTech@jfs.ohio.gov.
As always, Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Department of Health hotline, 1-833-4-ASK-ODH are great resources for those who have questions.