WEEK IN REVIEW
Thursday, December 31, 2020

Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted, and Mrs. Husted Wish You A Wonderful New Year

Week In Review for the Week Ending January 1, 2021

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Mrs. Tina Husted wish all Ohioans a happy new year ahead.

"I want to wish everyone a happy new year. The first few months of this coming year are probably going to remain tough. We have to continue to do what Ohioans do best. Think of a football team -- we have to block, we have to tackle, we have to carry out our mission. Our mission is to keep a distance, wear a mask, and stay home. We've got to execute on the vaccines and carry out that mission. We've done it before, and we'll do it again."

- Governor Mike DeWine -

Despite 2020 being a difficult year for many, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted look to 2021 with enthusiasm and positivity.

?Though this year brought about challenges and hardship, I believe that 2021 will be a year of strong recovery ? not only when it comes to COVID-19, but also as it relates to our workforce and our economy. I have every faith that the people of Ohio will continue to persevere in the coming months by working together and helping one another. Tina and I want to wish you and your families a blessed and very happy new year!?

- Lt. Governor Jon Husted -

On Wednesday, Governor DeWine provided?an update on Ohio?s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other state initiatives.

Governor DeWine announced that Ohio?is expected to receive more than 238,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the first week of January. Governor DeWine encouraged those administering the vaccine to do so with urgency.?

"Although we'll never know whose lives have been saved, we do know that these vaccines are saving lives," said Governor DeWine. "We all have a moral responsibility to get the vaccine out to those who choose to receive it as quickly as we possibly can."

Governor DeWine also encouraged citizens who wish to be vaccinated to act with urgency when offered the vaccine. Because the vaccine is currently scarce, Governor DeWine warned that those who decline to receive a vaccine at the first opportunity may not immediately receive another chance.?

SCHOOL QUARANTINE GUIDANCE CHANGE

Governor DeWine announced that Ohio is changing its guidance regarding quarantines following an in-classroom exposure in K-12 schools. Moving forward, students and teachers exposed to a COVID-positive person in school are no longer required to quarantine as long as the exposure occurred in a classroom setting and all students/teachers were wearing masks and following other appropriate protocols.

The change follows an?evaluation of virus spread in Ohio schools conducted by researchers with the Ohio Schools COVID-19 Evaluation Team. Preliminary results of the evaluation found no discernable difference in the risk of contracting the coronavirus between those in close contact with a COVID-positive person in the classroom and those who were farther away.??

"This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio's classrooms are a safe place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working," said Governor DeWine.

Schools should continue to require quarantines for exposed students in situations where masking and distancing protocols were not followed.?The updated quarantine guidance does not apply to after-school activities, including sports.?

CURFEW EXTENSION

Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health extended Ohio's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew until January 23, 2021. The extension is necessary until Ohio can determine if it will see a post-holiday case surge that impacts hospitals.

The curfew does not apply to those going to and from work, those who have an emergency, or those who need medical care. The curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to the pharmacy.? Picking up carry-out or a drive-thru meal and ordering for delivery is permitted, but serving food and drink within an establishment must cease at 10:00 p.m.

BAR & RESTAURANT GRANTS STILL AVAILABLE

More than 5,100 eligible on-premises liquor permit holders have not yet applied for state assistance through Ohio?s Bar & Restaurant Grant Program as of December 30. Of the $38.7 million allotted to support liquor permit holders, more than $12 million remains unclaimed.

Each active on-premises liquor permit (as of 10.23.20) is eligible for $2,500 per location.?The funding is not competitive, and the money does not have to be repaid.?

Although the program is referred to as the Bar & Restaurant Assistance Fund, more than just bars and restaurants have eligible liquor permits. ?Movie theaters, bowling alleys, sports and concert venues, and even some hair salons are eligible for this funding.

Permit holders who have not yet claimed their funds should visit?businesshelp.ohio.gov?to apply.?

This week, Governor DeWine signed the following bills into law.

• House Bill 24, sponsored by Representatives Stephen D. Hambley and Darrell Kick, revises humane society law.
• Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senator Kirk Schuring,?authorizes insurance premiums tax credits for certain projects.
• Senate Bill 310, sponsored by Senator Matt Dolan,?provides federal COVID-19 funding to local subdivisions.
• House Bill 312, sponsored by Representative Jena Powell,?permits certain intrastate equity crowdfunding. The legislation increased appropriations in the amount of $105.2 million in Fiscal Year 2021 for the Facilities Establishment Fund Group to allow three projects to proceed to Controlling Board: Columbus Crew SC ($25 million), Sherwin Williams Company ($35 million), and Origin Malt ($10 million).?
• House Bill 405, sponsored by Representative Jon Cross, creates the adoption linked deposit program.
• Senate Bill 27, sponsored by former Senator Joe Uecker,?regards disposition of fetal remains from surgical abortion.

Senate Bill 310?included language authorizing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to pay kinship caregivers. Across the state, more than 2,600 kinship caregivers are providing safe and loving homes to nearly 4,000 children in the custody of a children services agency, making kinship caregivers an important and essential part of our child welfare system.

In response,?Governor DeWine on Wednesday signed?Executive Order 2020-43D, requiring ODJFS to develop a system to pay kinship caregivers no later than June 1, 2021. He also ordered ODJFS to pay caregivers retroactively from the date the bill was signed. This executive order ensures that Ohio?s kinship caregivers receive the financial supports they need to help their loved ones grow and thrive, in a timely and efficient way.

On Thursday, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed a health order encouraging people to stay at home during specified hours unless they are working or engaged in an essential activity. This extends provisions in previous orders and applies until January 23, 2021, at 12:01 p.m.?

As of Thursday, there have been 700,380 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 8,962 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 38,334 people have been hospitalized, including 5,870 admissions to intensive care units.?In-depth data can be accessed by visiting?coronavirus.ohio.gov.

The Ohio Department of Health will not report numbers on Jan. 1 in observance of the holiday. Daily number reporting will resume on Jan. 2 and will reflect totals from Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.

For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit?coronavirus.ohio.gov?or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957