DeWine tells Ohioans COVID victory in sight
Governor outlines how remaining health orders can be lifted.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said victory against COVID-19 is in sight, but not here yet, and outlined the target he said the state needed to reach in order to remove all health orders relating to the pandemic.
DeWine addressed the state
Thursday evening, one year since the state started its fight against the virus.
“One year ago today, our battle against the coronavirus began,” said DeWine, who called March 4, 2020, Ohio’s first full day in the fight.
DeWine said with three types of vaccines being administered now, the lifting of the state’s health orders are an attainable goal.
“When Ohio gets down to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be lifted,” he said.
He said that the state reported 731 cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 3. By Feb. 3, that had dropped to 445 cases. On Tuesday, it had fallen to 179 cases.
“We can do this,” he said. He said continued vaccinations and continued use of masks, social
distancing and hand-washing are proven tools.
“Ohio, this is our path back,” he said. “We need to finish the job.”
The state received 450,000 vaccine doses this week, it’s most so far.
“We are now in the offense in this virus,” DeWine said, noting vaccines are available in every community through a total of 1,200 locations.
DeWine noted that 95% of Ohio’s children are back in school, in person, learning.
“To date, we have vaccinated over 1.8 million Ohioans,” he said, with cases in nursing homes down to onetenth of what they were at the height of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The end of our fight is in view, but we must continue this vital mission … we must resist this urge (to let up), and we must fight to the very end.”
However, the reality is that Ohioans continue to die each day of this virus, he noted. He called deaths that occur “when the war is almost over and when victory is almost at hand” the cruelest.
He cautioned the variants of the virus have spread and continue to be a threat.
Ohio reported fewer than 2,000 daily cases of coronavirus on Thursday, with 974,480 total cases recorded in the state, according to ODH.
Over the last 21 days, Ohio is averaging 2,050 cases a day.
Ohio has recorded 16,750 total deaths during the pandemic.
DeWine’s remarks came hours after a local state representative said she will introduce a bill to end Ohio’s mask mandate.
State Rep. Jena Powell, R-Arcanum, has opposed several of DeWine’s initiatives during the pandemic. In a press release, she said she would introduce legislation next week to end the mask mandate in Ohio.
Her move comes days after governors of Texas and Mississippi ended mask guidelines and relaxed other restrictions, a move that drew criticism from many health officials.
“Sixteen states currently do not have a statewide mask mandate,” Powell, who represents the 80th District, said. “These states are thriving economically, mentally and emotionally.”
Powell’s planned legislation also would prohibit any new statewide mask mandates by the governor or any department director during the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency, unless approved by the General Assembly.
“Cases are decreasing dramatically, and vaccine distribution is increasing rapidly,” said Powell, whose district includes Miami County and part of Darke County. “This bill supports individual freedom, and allows Ohioans to make the choice of whether or not they voluntarily want to wear a mask.”
DeWine issued the mask mandate in July.