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Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for Thursday, July 23

Below are the updates from yesterday’s press conference with Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted. The next press conference is currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 28th at 2:00 PM.  

Here’s the news from Thursday: 

  • Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
    • 75,819 confirmed cases
    • 4,367 probable cases  
    • 80,186 total cases
    • 9,968 hospitalizations
    • 2,997 confirmed deaths
    • 259 probable deaths
    • 3,256 total deaths
    • 2,403 ICU admissions
    • More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.  
  • Governor DeWine announced that new public health data has led the Ohio Department of Health to designate 23 counties as being in a Red Alert Level 3 Public Emergency as defined by the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.
    • Upgraded to Level 3 (Red): Clark, Defiance, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Lawrence, Marion, and Medina
    • Continuing at Level 3 (Red): Athens, Allen*, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Lucas, Montgomery, Pickaway, Richland, Scioto, and Union
    • Downgraded to Level 2 (Orange): Butler, Lorain, Summit, and Wood
    • Detailed information on each Red Alert Level 3 county can be found on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System's website. 
  • Following an outbreak at an Ohio long-term care facility in which more than two dozen residents and staff tested positive for COVID-19, Governor DeWine continued to encourage Ohioans to self-quarantine for 14-days after traveling to high-risk areas. 
  • Lt. Governor Husted today announced the next steps in OhioBroadband’s plans to expand broadband access across the state. Respondents to the RFI will need to provide the specific equipment they have available, number of units available, price, and amount of time it would take to implement an order. This RFI will be specific to K-12 plans and will be housed in a single location, giving every school district a chance to compare what is available and make the best decision for their district and their students.
  • Additionally, pending upcoming Controlling Board approval, schools can apply for a dollar to dollar matching grant program with the state for hotspots, in-home internet, and internet-enabled devices to students. This funding will be facilitated through the federal CARES Act and will total $50 million. Schools will have the flexibility to use the funding through a connectivity plan that makes the most sense for their student population and district. 
  • Lt. Governor Husted also announced the launch of a new E-Permitting system through InnovateOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation. The new system fulfills a goal outlined in the December 2019, Ohio Broadband Strategy, and replaces a paper-only right-of-way permitting system with an online process that is more convenient for permit requesters and is expected to reallocate 24,000 hours of labor per year. 
  • Ohioans filed 30,138 initial jobless claims last week, according to statistics the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported to the U.S. Dept. of Labor today. Ohioans filed 423,672 continued jobless claims last week, which were 352,630 fewer than the peak earlier this year. Over the last 18 weeks, ODJFS has distributed more than $5.5 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 757,000 Ohioans. Of the more than 1 million applications the agency has received, about 94% have been processed, with about 6% pending. 
  • 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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