PPE to Ohio, Graduations & Masks Take Center Stage

The much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) is on the way according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

During his daily news conference Wednesday, DeWine said the state has shipped 4.1 million pieces of PPE throughout the Buckeye State.

Local Emergency Management Agencies have the task of distributing the product, which reportedly includes 500,000 N95 masks.

The Governor also announced $16 million in grant funding has been made available to local authorities for use by law enforcement, courts and probation offices in the fight against coronavirus for the purpose of purchasing cleaning supplies, covering overtime hours and medical needs for inmates.

DeWine also addressed graduation ceremonies and celebrations. He’s asked the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Health to work together to advise the state’s 612 school districts with planning their commencement ceremonies. Districts are urged to work with their local health departments to gain approval of their plans for graduations.

THE OHIO DEPT OF EDUCATION STATEMENT ON GRADUATIONS

DeWine then segued into graduation parties saying it’s a “time to graduate, NOT the time to have a graduation party.” While sympathizing with those associated with the Class of 2020, he then directed parents to www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for guidance for such celebrations. “Our guidelines are no more than 10 people.”

Face covering were very much a topic of conversation following the Governor’s recommendation regarding masks last Monday. Many were confused after face coverings were first mandated for all employees and customers inside of businesses.

After backing down on the mandate Tuesday, more clarification was addressed by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted Wednesday. “For Ohioans, when you are a customer in an Ohio business, you should wear a face covering.” Said Husted. “But you are not required to wear a face covering.” Husted explained the idea was not to protect the wearers, but to protect the public from an asymptomatic wearer labeling it as a courtesy to one another.

Husted did outline there are a few exceptions for which the requirement is waived, such as:

Workers prohibited by law or regulation from wearing a facial covering on the job
Wearing a face covering is against documented industry best practices
When it’s not advisable for health purposes
When a face covering is in violation of a company’s safety policies
When an employee is sitting alone in an enclosed work space
When it’s not practical, i.e. in conditions of extreme heat

Should a business or employee believe they qualify for an exception, they have to be ready to provide written justification upon request.

As of 2pmET Wednesday, statewide total cases number 17,303 with 3,421 hospitalizations and 937 total deaths.

Cases by county in the Scioto Valley Region: Fairfield, 129; Fayette, 15; Highland, 11; Hocking, 16; Jackson, 4; Pickaway, 1,722; Pike, 3; Ross, 37; Scioto, 8 and Vinton, 5.

Local Prisons:

CCI: 5 inmates in isolation, 4 testing positive
RCI: None affected
PCI: 93 staff testing positive, 1 death, 28 recovered, 1,477 inmates testing positive, 19 confirmed deaths, 1 pending results and 67 recovered.

SEE THE DAILY ODRC REPORT HERE