Governor DeWine Gives COVID-19 Update

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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff gave their first statewide press conference Friday morning since June, on the COVID-19 virus.

“Individual choice is what we are about,” Dewine says, telling Ohioans that he wanted to have the press conference to deliver current information on the spread of delta. “The essential fact is that we have three vaccines that are highly, highly effective”, said DeWine.

“We have two Ohios. We have people who are vaccinated who are very, very safe today. We have people who are not vaccinated who are not safe.”

Much of what was presented were current statistics of how COVID is impacting Ohio, especially with the onset of the new Delta Variant.

Those stats included:
The Delta variant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ohio. In May, less than 1% of lab sequenced cases were identified as the Delta variant. The most recent data from July 4th through July 17th, show that 86.4% of lab sequenced cases were the Delta variant.

For those who get infected with the Delta variant, experts say they may have a higher viral load than those who are infected with other strains. It is much more contagious than any version of COVID-19 that we have encountered and remains exceedingly dangerous to those who are not vaccinated.

Of those hospitalized in Ohio with COVID-19 since January, more than 98% were unvaccinated.

Ohio counties with lowest vaccination rates are seeing the largest increases in vaccinations in recent weeks. Holmes County, which was only administering 24 vaccinations a day in early July, was giving 90+ by the end of the month.

Ohio Hospitalization:
Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated Total Hospitalizations: 18,662 (since Jan 2021)
Hospitalizations among unvaccinated: 18,367
Hospitalizations of fully vaccinated: 295

The latest data shows that 60% of Ohioans 18 and over have received at least one dose of vaccine, while 58% of all eligible Ohioans, those 12 and older, are either fully or partially vaccinated. Demographic breakdowns of these age groups will now be available on the COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard at coronavirus.ohio.gov.

The governor says each county has permission to use COVID funds for incentives, that might encourage more people to get vaccinated. There has been an increase of vaccinations in 85 of Ohio’s 88 counties in July compared to the previous month while last week saw an increase in all 88 counties compared to the first week in July. Ohio’s lowest 22 vaccinated counties saw some of the biggest increase in the number of people vaccinated last week.

“Delta spreads like wildfire and seeks out anyone who is unvaccinated. But there is good news as two things remain very clear: First, the vaccines are the key to containing this fire and ultimately putting it out,” said Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D. “Secondly, vaccination is without any doubt your best bet, regardless of your age, for avoiding getting really sick with COVID-19 and to avoid lasting complications like Long COVID.”

When asked about whether those who have already received a COVID vaccination, should they get a booster? Dr. Vanderhoff said he doesn’t believe that is necessary at this time, concluding- “Overwhelming evidence at this time shows the current vaccine is enough, unless you are a person that has what is described as a “compromised immune system.”

When asked about whether unvaccinated students should be sent to school without a mask, both DeWine and Vanderhoff said they believe the student should wear a mask if not vaccinated. Although that is not currently a state mandate.

Ohio Senate Bill 22, which is now law, allows lawmakers to rescind health orders like the mask mandate via a “concurrent resolution,” which circumvents the governor. Under prior law, they need a 2/3 majority on a bill to override the governor’s veto.”

Again, no such mandate requiring a mask be worn among the non-vaccinated exists in Ohio.