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Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for October 1

Below are the updates from yesterday’s press conference with Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted. The next press conference is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 6th at 2:00 PM.   

Here’s the news from Thursday: 

  • Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
    • 146,438 confirmed cases
    • 8,876 probable cases  
    • 155,314 total cases
    • 15,606 hospitalizations
    • 4,514 confirmed deaths
    • 303 probable deaths
    • 4,817 total deaths
    • 3,297 ICU admissions
    • More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.
  • Upgraded to Level 3 (Red): Clermont, Hamilton, Muskingum, and Richland*
  • Remaining at Level 3 (Red): Ashland, Butler, Mercer, Montgomery, Pike, Putnam, and Scioto
  • Downgraded to Level 2 (Orange): Delaware and Stark
  • Richland county is on the Watch List  
  • Today, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 614 into law. House Bill 614, sponsored by Representatives Mark Fraizer and Tracy Richardson, addresses Ohio's unemployment compensation program, Facilities Establishment Fund, community projects at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, workforce education partnership, land conveyance, and concealed handgun licenses. House Bill 614 distributed $650 million Coronavirus Relief Funds to local governments across the state. 
  • The Administration would sincerely like to thank the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Mayors Alliance, Ohio Municipal League, and Ohio Township Association for their partnership and support of this important legislation. Attached are their statements (1) (2). 
  • Lt. Governor Husted announced the results of the August 2020 TechCred Application period, which set a record in approving 4,468 credentials through 288 Ohio companies. Prior to their election, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted promised to fund the completion of at least 10,000 micro-degrees per year – a commitment that has been met through this latest round. 
  • Lt. Governor Husted also held an on-air discussion with Dr. Abby Norris Turner of Ohio State University. Dr. Norris Turner described the prevalence testing Ohio State conducted on behalf of the Ohio Department of Health in order to assess how many Ohioans have already contracted COVID-19. You will soon be able to access a summary of the study at coronavirus.ohio.gov and viewing the Dashboard Overview page.  
  • Lt. Governor Husted thanked the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio for coordinating efforts between Facebook and T-Mobile that will provide Wi-Fi hotspots to libraries in Southeast Ohio. These internet-enabled devices will be available to patrons to check out in the same way they would borrow a library book or film. The effort aims to give opportunities for at-home internet usage for those who do not have reliable access to broadband. Facebook donated the devices at no charge and paid for 6 months of unlimited network usage on the T-Mobile network. T-Mobile will fund an additional 6 months of connectivity for the devices as well as help get the hotspots ready for use and provide ongoing technical support.  
  • Lt. Governor Husted also recognized Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Fifth-Third Bank, and JobsOhio for offering financial support so 10 companies will be able to participate in the London Stock Exchange ELITE program. The London Stock Exchange’s ELITE Program is opening their first headquarters in the Americas in Cleveland, Ohio, which Lt. Governor Husted announced while on a business development mission to the United Kingdom in 2019.  
  • Attached are the slides that Governor DeWine used during today’s press conference.  
  • Ohioans filed 17,944 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported to the U.S. Dept. of Labor today. 
  • Over the last 28 weeks, ODJFS has distributed more than $6.8 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 813,000 Ohioans. Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, more than 94% have been processed, with less than 6% pending. In addition, ODJFS has issued more than $6.3 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to more than 585,000 PUA claimants.  
  • 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.

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