Complete Story
10/07/2020
Assistance Funds are Becoming Available in Ohio and Kentucky
Ohio State Updates: 9/30 - 10/6
Governor DeWine announced that his administration is working closely with the Ohio General Assembly on a plan to distribute CARES Act funding to help citizens who are struggling to pay their rent, mortgage, or water and sewage utility bills. The plan will also focus on providing aid to small businesses and non-profits.
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. So far, a total of 983 Ohio employers have been approved for reimbursement, which will yield as many as 11,941 technology-focused credentials for Ohioans.
Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 614 into law. House Bill 614 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.
The governor continued a travel advisory for all individuals coming into Ohio from states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15% or higher. Those traveling from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel: Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The self-quarantine recommendation applies to those who live in Ohio and to people who are traveling into Ohio from any of these states. Ohio's positivity rate, an indicator of the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, was 3.3% over the last 7 days (up from 3.0%). Visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for tips on how to effectively quarantine.
Ohio recorded an increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 1,252 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,033 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
Michigan State Updates: 9/30 - 10/6
Governor Gretchen Whitmer's executive order requiring customers and workers to wear masks inside indoor businesses is no longer enforceable after the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the law she used to impose the order, Attorney General Dana Nessel said Sunday.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Sunday that she will not enforce any of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's pandemic executive orders after the Michigan Supreme Court narrowly ruled that the governor has exceeded her authority for the past five months in managing the coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn't mean all government rules and regulations aimed at mitigating the spread of the airborne virus have gone away for businesses, schools and individuals.
From the state public health code to business licensing and local health orders, there are multiple legal avenues for continued restrictions on business activity, though none nearly as broad and sweeping as a governor's executive orders. Read more on this decision
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order under MCL 333.2253 restricting gathering sizes, requiring face coverings in public spaces and places limitations on bars and other venues. The order follows the Michigan Supreme Court decision on Friday, October 2, that invalidated COVID-19 related executive orders. Under MCL 333.2253, if the MDHHS director determines that control of an epidemic is necessary to protect the public health, the director by emergency order may prohibit the gathering of people for any purpose and may establish procedures to be followed during the epidemic to ensure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws. Gordon shares more about the reasoning behind the order in a recent column.
Violations of this order are punishable by a misdemeanor of imprisonment, a fine of not more than $200, or both. Violations of this order are also punishable by a civil fine of fine of up to $1,000. This order is effective immediately and remains in effect through Friday, Oct. 30. Individuals with suggestions and concerns are invited to submit comments via email to COVID19@michigan.gov.
Kentucky State Updates: 9/30 - 10/6
Governor Beshear presented an update on the Lost Wages Assistance program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides an additional $400 per week for those who qualify. “Our first three weeks of payments are already out, already to those individuals. The fourth payment went out last night. The fifth should go out on October 1 and the sixth is going out, if everything goes as planned, on October 5,” the governor said. He also said Ernst & Young is continuing to help the state with letters of determination, a final step that has held up some payments.
Governor Beshear and Dr. Stack shared new guidance on how Kentucky families can celebrate Halloween safely. If trick-or-treating is permitted in your community, please trick-or-treat the safe way:
- Place individually wrapped candy outside on the porch, driveway or a table.
- Maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from anyone not within your household.
- Always wear a face covering. Halloween masks DO NOT count as a face covering.
- Clean hands before and after touching the wrapped candy.
- Trick-or-treat in family groups and don’t congregate in large groups.
- Trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood. Do not travel to other neighborhoods.
- Use hand sanitizer often, especially after contacting frequently-touched surfaces and before eating anything.
To view all the Halloween guidance, including recommended safer alternatives, high-risk activities to avoid and helpful reminders visit, https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/covid19/cv19halloweenguidance.pdf.
Taking a major step forward in his commitment to provide quality health care to Kentuckians, Governor Beshear announced the state has reconnected kynect in order to provide easier access to health coverage and other benefits. Governor Beshear said the new kynect offers expanded benefits, enhanced usability, a new mobile-friendly format and helps to ready the commonwealth for the return of the state-based exchange. The move is expected to save Kentuckians about $15 million a year.
Governor Beshear also announced that he again has renewed the state’s executive order requiring facial coverings for another 30 days. He pointed to the latest guidance for the state from the White House, noting that it says, “Masks should be worn indoors in all public settings, and group gatherings should be limited.” “We are experiencing an escalation, our third major escalation in this COVID crisis, and it is significant,” the governor said. “Last week we had 6,126 positive cases, and we are on pace to have more than that this week.”
New COVID-19 cases have increased in Kentucky this week, with an average of 831 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 732 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.
