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Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for Friday, April 10

Below are the updates from Friday’s press conference with Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted, and Dr. Acton. There was no press conference scheduled for Saturday or Sunday. 

Here’s the news from Friday:

  • Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
    • 5,836 confirmed cases
    • 42 probable cases (CDC expanded definition)
    • 5,878 total cases
    • 1,755 hospitalizations
    • 227 confirmed deaths
    • 4 probable deaths (CDC expanded definition)
    • 231 total deaths
    • 548 ICU admissions
    • More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.  
  • To comply with new Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines recommended by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Dr. Acton has issued an amended Director’s Journal Entry with updated reporting requirements for COVID-19, which you will notice above. Moving forward, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has ordered that confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 based on clinical and epidemiological evidence be reported within twenty-four hours to the local health district in which the person resides (previously only COVID-19 cases confirmed with a lab test were reportable). Attached is the Director's Journal Entry and additional information
  • Governor DeWine announced a new permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation, allowing food vendors to temporarily serve food at Ohio’s 86 rest areas.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) temporarily lifted regulations prohibiting commercial activity at rest areas, with limited exceptions.  The permit is of no cost to the vendor, and can be found on ODOT’s website. Attached is a statement of support from the Ohio Truckers Association.  
  • Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM), in partnership with Ohio’s Managed Care Plans announced an emergency amendment to ODM’s provider agreement.  The updated agreement will impact pharmacy benefits, telehealth services and service authorization requirements. These changes are intended to remove barriers to care, and to safeguard individual health and wellbeing while reducing burdens on hospitals and providers. Attached is ODM's emergency provider agreement
  • Lt. Governor Husted announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted STERIS, a Mentor, Ohio-based company, a temporary Emergency Use Authorization for decontaminating compatible N95 and N95-equivalent respirators by utilizing V-PRO Sterilizers. This on-site solution allows hospitals to decontaminate up to 10 masks per cycle in 28 minutes. Additional information is attached
  • Today, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Board of Directors approved to send up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers this spring to ease the economic impact on Ohio’s economy and business community.  This was proposed on Wednesday by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.  Of the $1.6 billion dividend, approximately $1.4 billion would go to private employers and approximately $200 million would go to local governments. Attached is a letter of support from the Ohio Restaurant Association.
  • Many Ohio distilleries have stepped up and are now are producing large quantities of hand sanitizer. JobsOhio has purchased more than 3,100 cases (more than 1 million ounces) of distillery-made sanitizer. JobsOhio will donate the hand sanitizer to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Shipments of the hand sanitizer are arriving at distribution centers this week and will be delivered to Ohio’s 12 Food Banks next week and over the coming months as they need it. 
  • Ohioans can apply for unemployment benefits online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at unemployment.ohio.gov. It is also possible to file by phone at 877-644-6562 or TTY at 888- 642-8203, Monday through Friday 7AM to 7PM, Saturday 9AM to 5PM, and Sunday 9AM to 1PM. Employers with questions should email UCTech@jfs.ohio.gov 

As always, Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Department of Health hotline, 1-833-4-ASK-ODH are great resources for those who have questions.

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