Governor DeWine Press Conference Summary for September 15

Below are the updates from Governor DeWine's press conference from September 15. The next press conference is currently scheduled for Thursday, September 17th at 2:00 PM.

Here’s the news from Tuesday: 

• Ohio’s COVID-19 case data is below:
• 132,118 confirmed cases
• 7,367 probable cases  
• 139,485 total cases
• 14,481 hospitalizations
• 4,207 confirmed deaths
• 299 probable deaths
• 4,506 total deaths
• 3,111 ICU admissions
• More data is available on the COVID-19 Dashboard HERE.

• Governor DeWine and Director Ursel McElroy of the Ohio Department of Aging provided an update on testing in nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, adult day centers, and adult day cares. Directory McElroy explained that frequent testing in congregate settings is important to control the spread of the virus. She also mentioned that adult day care and senior centers will open on September 21^st. The facilities will test staff every other week and participants if they present symptoms. Outdoor visitation started at Ohio nursing homes on July 20^th.  

• Governor DeWine announced that 20 women and men, representing four branches of the military will be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. These Ohioans, from 16 counties, have continued to serve the United States as well as Ohio, as business owners, community volunteers, scientists, advocates, engineers, and much more. The virtual ceremony can be viewed on November 5^th at OhioVets.gov.  

• Governor DeWine, along with JP Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, announced that JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Development Services Agency will launch a pilot initiative called Ohio To Work. The Initiative will help connect Ohioans looking for a job to a new job opportunity. The first Ohio To Work initiative will be launched in Cleveland- Cuyahoga County. Ohioans can learn more at OhioToWork.com. 
  
  
• Yesterday, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 606 into law. House Bill 606, sponsored by Representative Diane Grendell, ensures civil immunity to individuals, schools, health care providers, businesses, and other entities from lawsuits arising from exposure, transmission, or contraction of COVID-19, or any mutation of the virus, as long as they were not showing reckless, intentional, or willful misconduct. Thank you to our association partners who helped advocate on behalf of this important legislation. Attached are their statements of support. 
  
  
• Attached are the slides that Governor DeWine used during the press conference.  Also attached are the pop-up testing locations for this week. 

• 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.