Graphic Media Alliance

03/02/2021

COVID-19 Updates from Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky

Ohio State Updates: 2/24 - 3/2

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that state Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud had signed a revised health order, expanding capacity for mass gatherings within the state. According to the governor's office, the first order – which originally prohibited mass gatherings – will now allow for events to go forward, so long as COVID-19 protocols are still followed. This includes wedding receptions, funeral repasts, proms, and other major gatherings. The order now also allows for more than 300 people to attend events held at banquet centers, as long the venue still enforces other health orders and guidelines. 

Governor DeWine announced that Ohio is expected to receive more than 448,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week. Of that total, more than 96,000 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be delivered to around 200 new independent pharmacy providers as well as chain pharmacies, hospitals, and health departments. Ohio now offers more than 1,200 provider locations. Ohioans can find vaccine provider locations at vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

As of this week, all doses requested by schools through the state’s vaccination program have been allocated to local providers. Some school staff already received their second dose, and other second dose clinics are underway. Ohio began making vaccines available to K-12 teachers this month with the goal of having all of Ohio’s K-12 students back to full or partial in-person learning by March 1. Right now, most students in Ohio districts have access to at least some in-person instruction.

Lt. Governor Husted outlined provisions in the federal stimulus package recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that if signed into law would disproportionally and negatively impact Ohio and its recovery. This $1.9 trillion COVID Relief Bill provides significant additional relief funding for state and local governments, however, the as-passed version adopted by Congress distributes the $350 billion in coronavirus relief funding to state and local governments using a formula that incorporates state unemployment rates as of the fourth quarter of 2020, instead of using a solely population-based formula. Under the current proposal, because Ohio’s December 2020 unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, the state will miss out on over $800 million compared to if a more equitable population-based formula was used, as was used for the CARES Act.

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 seventh straight weekly decrease in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 1,801 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 2,127 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.

There have been 970,583 total cases reported in Ohio with 17,189 deaths reported. There are 1,081 Ohioans hospitalized with 279 in the ICU. 195 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 11,835,921 tests have been administered, which puts Ohio at a 7-day Positivity Rate of 3.2%. 

As of Wednesday, March 3, 80 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: 2/24 - 3/2

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) updated two of its epidemic orders, allowing for increased capacity limits at various venues, larger residential and nonresidential gatherings and expanded visitation opportunities at residential care facilities. Changes are designed to balance reopening while controlling the spread of COVID-19 and save Michiganders’ lives. More than 2 million doses of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and a third vaccine will soon be arriving here in Michigan. Although progress has been made in reduction of hospitalizations, it is crucial that Michiganders continue to mask up and socially distance as we reopen. 

Capacity changes include:

• Restaurants and bars are allowed to be at 50% capacity up to 100 people. Tables must be six feet apart with no more than six people per table. There is now an 11 pm curfew.
• Indoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 25 people, allowing public meetings and other small indoor gatherings to resume.
• Outdoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 300, allowing larger outdoor events to resume.
• Indoor entertainment venues are allowed to be at 50% capacity, up to 300 people.
• Exercise facilities are allowed to be at 30% capacity with restrictions on distancing and mask requirements.
• Retail is allowed to be at 50% capacity.
• Casinos are allowed to be at 30% capacity.
• Indoor stadiums and arenas are allowed to have 375 if seating capacity is under 10,000; 750 if seating capacity is over 10,000.
• Outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities may host up to 1,000 patrons.
• Indoor residential gatherings are now limited to 15 people from three households, while outdoor residential gatherings can include up to 50 people.

Johnson & Johnson has contracted Grand Rapids-based Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing Inc. to fill its vials with its coronavirus vaccine. They are still seeking more manufacturing partnerships to increase supply of its COVID-19 vaccine which was cleared Saturday by U.S. regulators. J&J will deliver 3.9 million doses of its one-shot vaccine within the next two days, Chief Executive Officer Alex Gorsky said Monday in a telephone interview. The company wants to speed up its timeline of supplying enough vaccines to immunize 20 million Americans by the end of the month and a total of 100 million by the end of June, he said.

Detroit continues to expand its vaccine eligibility faster than the whole of Michigan — a strategy with which the state has expressed no issues. The city health department allows several groups to get vaccines that Michigan's statewide priority list doesn't include: manufacturing employees, as well as janitors, clergy members, adults 18 years and older with developmental disabilities, residents 60 and older, restaurant workers and "good neighbors" or any Michigan resident 55 and up who brings a Detroiter 60 or older to get their shot.

Manufacturing employees who live or work in Detroit can now get vaccinated at the downtown TCF Center garage site. The Detroit Health Department and health care industry partners will also be vaccinating workers at some larger plants on-site. Appointments are required. To book one, call (313) 230-0505. Those eligible for a vaccine through their employment will need to provide a pay stub, ID or other proof of where they work. Manufacturers in the city can also contact employment agency Detroit at Work to arrange a vaccination event through DetroitatWork.com or via its hotline, (313) 962-9675. People age 55 and older, regardless of if they live in the city or not, can now get vaccinated at Detroit's TCF Center site if they act as a "good neighbor" by bringing along an older Detroiter in the same car.

New Michigan COVID-19 cases increased last week with an average of 1,334 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,179 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.

There have been 649,057 total cases reported in Michigan with 16,544 deaths reported. There are 832 Michiganders hospitalized with 223 in the ICU. 99 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 10,985,614 tests have been administered, which puts Michigan at a 7-day Positivity Rate of 3.7%. 

As of Wednesday, March 3, 6 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: 2/24 - 3/2

Governor Beshear announced 119 new vaccination sites, bringing the state’s total number of vaccine providers to 410. Six of the new locations are regional sites; three are federally qualified health centers; 10 are Walmart stores; 10 are Kroger stores; and 90 are Walgreens stores. New locations will be added to the ‘Where Can I Get Vaccinated?’ map on the vaccine.ky.gov website.

Lt. Gov. Coleman announced public transit agencies across the commonwealth are offering free or reduced-cost transportation to and from vaccine appointments. These services are already operating in over 90 counties, covering 75% of all counties across Kentucky. 

Gov. Beshear announced 18 industries can increase capacity to 60% as the state completes its seventh straight week of declining COVID-19 cases. These industries include, but are not limited to bars and restaurants; bowling alleys; fitness centers; movie theaters; office-based businesses; and retail. He stated, “This capacity increase is an initial step where we will watch and see to ensure we don’t see a corresponding increase in cases.” The Governor said he intends to increase child care capacity to regular group size on March 15 if positive trends continue.

Gov. Beshear said the first Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses will be arriving in the state this week and delivered to independent pharmacies. “The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot, highly effective vaccine adds to the growing weekly supply available to Kentucky that has risen in just over a month from around 57,000 to over 100,000 first doses and growing,” said Gov. Beshear.

The Governor reminded Kentuckians that starting today, individuals in Phase 1C can sign up for appointments at regional vaccination centers. He encouraged Kentuckians to sign up for notifications at vaccine.ky.gov. “Not only will our website tell you which phase you are in specifically, you can supply your contact information so we can communicate with you when appointments become available at new and existing sites across the state,” said Gov. Beshear. To learn more about Kentucky’s 410 vaccination sites, visit kycovid19.ky.gov/ky-covid-vaccine. 

New COVID-19 cases have decreased in Kentucky this week, with an average of 986 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,159 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.

There have been 406,201 total cases reported in Kentucky with 4,671 deaths reported. There are 684 Kentuckians hospitalized with 178 in the ICU. 82 patients are on a ventilator. A total of 4,521,249 tests have been administered, which puts Kentucky at a 7-day Positivity Rate of 4.8%. 

As of Wednesday, March 3, 20 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.