Ohio Governor Tells What It Will Take To Lift Health Orders

A year ago, yesterday, COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt.

(Columbus, Oh.) – One year ago, Thursday, the country began a battle against COVID-19.

A year later things are continuing to improve across the country, but the fight isn’t over yet, according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

“This has been a tough year,” DeWine said. “Many have lost a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a spouse, and some have even lost a child. Yet, we did what Ohioans always do – we rallied together. We sacrificed. We worked hard to protect the most vulnerable.”

As of Thursday, over 1.8 million Ohioans have been vaccinated at over 1,200 vaccination sites across the state. Governor DeWine says Ohio is a true leader in getting kids back to school, having vaccinated over 200,000 educators in February alone.

Nearly 95 percent of students are back in school for in-person learning, according to DeWine.

“The vaccine is the most efficient, effective, and powerful weapon,” DeWine added. “Our vaccination plan has been to prioritize Ohioans most likely to die if they get the virus: older Ohioans, those with severe developmental disabilities, and those with serious, life-threatening medical condition.”

While the light at the end of the tunnel appears near, DeWine says health orders won’t be rescinded until Ohio gets down to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks.

Having said that, Ohio has lifted some restrictions, including the curfew, stay at home orders, and bars, restaurants, and gyms are open.

“The end of our fight is now in view, but we must continue pressing forward in these final days. We must not relent,” DeWine said. “Our path back is by each of us getting vaccinated when we can, and by each of us wearing masks in public. While no one will be forced to take the vaccine, the more of us who are vaccinated, the more complete our victory, and the more confidently we can put this behind us.”

For more information on COVID-19 in Ohio and how to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Overview | COVID-19 (ohio.gov).