Complete Story
02/24/2021
COVID-19 Updates from Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky
Ohio State Updates: 2/17 - 2/23
Governor DeWine provided information on the progression of vaccine eligibility in Ohio. Because those ages 65 and older make up approximately 87 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in Ohio, no additional age groups are eligible for the vaccine at this time. Once the demand for the vaccine has been met for those 65 and older, those ages 60 and older will become eligible.
Ohio is paying at least $3.6 million to Accenture to develop the statewide coronavirus vaccine signup, after a system developed for the federal government was not able to work for Ohio. The cost may go up if Ohio adds additional services and as more people schedule appointments, since the contract only covers 1 million people.
Gov. Mike DeWine plans to allow the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and other professional sports teams in Ohio that play their games outdoors to allow fans at 30% capacity when their seasons begin in April. He said the rules would apply to Ohio’s Major League Soccer teams in Cincinnati and Columbus that also start their seasons in April, as well as minor league baseball teams like the Akron RubberDucks, which are scheduled to begin their season in May. Teams will have to provide their coronavirus health protocols – including how they will keep people in groups, and their requirements for face masks – to their local health departments for approval.
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 to or from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days: Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota.
Ohio recorded sixth straight weekly decrease in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 2,127 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 2,354 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
There have been 959,995 total cases reported in Ohio with 17,045 deaths reported. There are 1,338 Ohioans hospitalized with 356 in the ICU. 236 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 11,479,010 tests have been administered, which puts Ohio at a Positivity Rate of 8%.
As of Wednesday, February 24, 84 out of 88 counties are in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 incidence rate map. You can see how your county is doing here.
Michigan State Updates: 2/17 - 2/23
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Protect Michigan Commission announce details for a new program to help enhance the state's vaccine equity strategy. Michigan providers that are federally enrolled to administer COVID-19 vaccines must email applications by 5 p.m., Monday, March 1 if they can help remove barriers for those ages 60 and up who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus. Applicants accepted into the community outreach pilot project can request up to 2,500 doses. The goal of the new pilot program is to help remove barriers to vaccine access for Michiganders 60 and older who live in communities with high Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and high COVID-19 mortality rates. Providers are encouraged to apply who are already federally approved to administer the COVID-19 vaccines and can successfully manage the vaccine including storage, identifying a method for second doses, and entering doses administered into the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) within 24 hours.
The three biggest factors impacting Michigan’s economic growth are acceptance and rollout of the vaccines, new federal stimulus and projected capital investment and employment, according to Business Leaders for Michigan. Thanks to the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, executives from Michigan's largest companies are optimistic about the state economy and getting workers back in the office. Of the executive respondents from 56 Business Leaders for Michigan member companies polled in January, 43 percent expect the Michigan economy to be better in the next six to 12 months, up from 34 percent in October.
According to a city of Detroit-University Economic Analysis Partnership that produces job and wage data with support from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University report from this week, Detroit's employment rate won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025. The positive trend is pushing employers to consider when in-person office work may resume in the coming months. As of the survey in January, nearly 55 percent of executives surveyed said at least half of their employees are still working remotely. But 84 percent said they anticipate a more normalized return to in-person work by August, with 57 percent expecting that to occur in the third quarter of this year. However, more than 50 percent of surveyed executives said they expect more than 10 percent of staff to be working remotely at any given point even after the pandemic.
Approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund on January 14, the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program allocated $55 million to provide support to Michigan small businesses to meet the urgent need of businesses that experienced a significant financial hardship due to COVID-19 emergency “gatherings and face mask orders.” The program allowed for grants of up to $20,000 to be awarded to businesses that are fully closed, with grants of up to $15,000 awarded to businesses that have been partially closed, or otherwise are open and can demonstrate an impact. A total of 5 percent of overall funding for the program was able to go toward administrative costs of the economic development organizations administering the grants. In total, the MEDC has now launched 23 COVID-19 relief and recovery programs that have supported 24,460 businesses in the state and helped to retain nearly 200,000 jobs across all 83 counties.
The Michigan Public Service Commission launched new efforts focused on educating and engaging utility customers amid sweeping changes in the energy industry and ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Michigan is in the midst of a significant transition from large, central power plants to clean, distributed sources of energy, and active customer involvement will be critical to taking full advantage of the benefits of that shift,” said MPSC Commissioner Tremaine Phillips. “Today’s actions take the next steps in exploring how to best engage and educate customers, and ensure we do so equitably, so that all Michiganders benefit from the energy transition, while also considering the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on access and affordability for so many residents and businesses.” In Case No. U-20959, the Commission established a Customer Education and Participation workgroup as part of Phase III of MI Power Grid, the MPSC’s multiyear initiative supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to maximize the benefits of the energy transition for residents and businesses.
New Michigan COVID-19 cases ticked up slightly last week with an average of 1,179 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,149 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.
There have been 641,270 total cases reported in Michigan with 16,389 deaths reported. There are 723 Michiganders hospitalized with 200 in the ICU. 86 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 10,781,190 tests have been administered, which puts Michigan at a Positivity Rate of 5.9%.
As of Wednesday, February 24, 5 out of 83 counties are in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 incidence rate map. You can see how your county is doing here.
Kentucky State Updates: 2/17 - 2/23
Governor Beshear announced the state is opening an additional 28 vaccination sites, for a total of 291 sites across the commonwealth. Kentuckians can see a list of all new vaccination sites here. For more information, go to vaccine.ky.gov. Regional vaccination sites will open to Kentuckians in Phase 1C beginning March 1, and he expects other vaccination sites to move into Phase 1C around the same time. Gov. Beshear encouraged all vaccine sites to continue prioritizing Phase 1A and 1B individuals, even as 1C appointments are made.
Updated visitation protocols in some of the state’s long-term care facilities were recently announced and took effect Saturday, February 20. “Indoor visitation will resume for non-Medicare-certified facilities that have been through the vaccination process: that includes assisted living facilities, personal care homes, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and independent living facilities,” the Governor said. “Group activities, communal dining and visitation amongst vaccinated residents will resume.” Visitors must schedule with the facility ahead of time. Up to two visitors (if from the same household) can visit a resident at one time. Visitors need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the visit or of a COVID-19 vaccination. Detailed guidance is posted here.
“We believe that access to health insurance is a right for every Kentuckian. Expanded health care has helped us to have fewer COVID-19 deaths per capita than most states,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “President Biden signed an executive order that activated a special three-month health care enrollment period, which started February 15 and will last until May 15. The Special Enrollment Period is for Americans to get quality, affordable health care coverage through their state’s health insurance marketplace.” Kentucky residents currently uninsured may qualify for financial help to pay for health coverage or free coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Kentuckians may get help with enrolling in several ways: 1) Visit HealthCare.gov and submit an application, or update an application that has already been started. 2) Visit kynect.ky.gov, a one-stop portal for finding health coverage and other benefits. Kentuckians may also call 855-459-6328 for assistance. 3) And lastly, another option is contacting a health insurance agent currently licensed in Kentucky.
Gov. Beshear announced he is issuing a new executive order that recommends all school districts, including private schools, offer or expand some form of in-person instructional opportunities beginning March 1. If district personnel have not yet finished their vaccine series as of March 1, the executive order recommends some form of in-person instruction begin seven days after they have received their second vaccination. Lt. Gov. Coleman said the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) issued a comprehensive, 136-page manual, KDE COVID-19 Guidance 2.0, which will assist with the shift back into school buildings.
New COVID-19 cases have decreased in Kentucky this week, with an average of 1,159 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,246 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.
There have been 400,307 total cases reported in Kentucky with 4,527 deaths reported. There are 883 Kentuckians hospitalized with 228 in the ICU. 112 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 4,439,321 tests have been administered, which puts Kentucky at a Positivity Rate of 9.5%.
As of Wednesday, February 24, 44 out of 120 counties are in the red zone on the state’s COVID-19 incidence rate map. You can see how your county is doing here.
