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Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for October 8

Below are the updates from Governor DeWine’s press conference. The next press conference is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 13th at 2:00 PM.

Here’s the news from Thursday: 

Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:

  • 154,746 confirmed cases
  • 9,516 probable cases
  • 164,262 total cases
  • 16,200 hospitalizations
  • 4,674 confirmed deaths
  • 309 probable deaths
  • 4,983 total deaths
  • 3,395 ICU admissions
  • More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.

Governor DeWine today released Ohio's updated Public Health Advisory System map.

  • Upgraded to Level 3 (Red):  Fayette, Lawrence, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Portage, Ross, and Trumbull
  • Remaining at Level 3 (Red):  Ashland, Butler, Hamilton, Mercer, Montgomery, Muskingum, Pike, Putnam, Richland, and Scioto
  • Downgraded to Level 2 (Orange):  Clermont

Governor DeWine announced that Ohio Department of Health Interim Director Lance Himes has signed the order that allows nursing facilities to permit indoor visitation beginning Monday, October 12th. In order to permit indoor visitation, facilities are required to meet certain health and safety requirements. The visits will be limited to two visitors and will be a maximum of 30 minutes. Facilities are required to report visitation information, including visitation status, hours, maximum visitation time, and number of visitors via an online dashboard at coronavirus.ohio.gov. Facilities must register with the state by October 19th.

This order also details compassionate care visits, which are separate and distinct from normal visitation. Other situations can include when a resident is grieving someone who recently passed away, a resident that may need encouragement to eat or drink that was previously provided by a family member or caregiver and is experiencing weight loss or dehydration, or when a resident is experiencing emotional distress. The order is available on coronavirus.ohio.gov

Prior to today’s press conference, Governor DeWine visited the site of a future H2Ohio wetland complex in Wyandot County. The new wetland complex, with several new and restored wetlands, will be developed at the headwaters of the Blanchard River, which flows into Lake Erie. 

Governor DeWine acknowledged Ohio’s Task Force One as they were activated and deployed yesterday to assist those impacted by Hurricane Delta in Louisiana. Ohio’s Task Force One is headquartered near Dayton, Ohio, and serves as one of the top Urban Search and Rescue teams.

Beginning tomorrow, the Ohio Department Administrative Services (DAS) will launch the Ohio Women’s Enterprise Certification (WBE). This first-of-its-kind certification will allow women-owned businesses to seek certification from the Equal Employment Opportunity office at DAS.

Governor DeWine today acknowledged Kimberly Hall, Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge for being named the 2020 Center for Community Solutions Public Service award winners. They received this award for their commitment to ensuring Ohioans have access to food and nutrition services through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as for their efforts to create the Pandemic-EBT program, which provides critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of Ohio school-aged children.

Donate Life Ohio will be holding Ohio’s first-ever online donor registration drive today.  Donate Life's “Don’t Wait, Save 8” campaign encourages Ohioans to register online to become a donor, rather than waiting until a visit to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). In Ohio, more than 3,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

The Ohio National Guard will be assisting with free COVID-19 testing in the Cincinnati-area on Sunday, October 11. Testing will be available in nine Cincinnati locations from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Several of these locations also offer flu shots. Information on testing in Cincinnati is available at FamilyHealthDay.org. Additional information about COVID-19 testing throughout the state is available at coronavirus.ohio.gov under the Testing and Community Health Centers tab. 

Attached are the slides that Governor DeWine used during today’s press conference. 

Ohioans filed 18,592 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. This was 255,623 fewer than – or less than 7% of – the peak earlier this year. Ohioans filed 299,030 continued jobless claims last week, which was 477,272 fewer than – or less than half (about 39%) of – the peak earlier this year.

Over the last 29 weeks, ODJFS has distributed more than $6.9 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 817,000 Ohioans. Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, 95% have been processed, with 5% pending. In addition, ODJFS has issued more than $6.4 billion in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments to more than 595,000 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, http://www.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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