Ohio State Updates: 7/29 - 8/4
Governor DeWine announced that Ohio will separate its mass gathering guidance into its own order. Mass gathering guidance was most recently referenced as part of other orders and combining this information into a stand-alone order will allow citizens to easily find guidance on holding gatherings in a safe manner. Mass gatherings in Ohio remain limited to 10 people. The order will still permit Ohioans to go to work, worship, go to school, and acquire goods and services, however, this order will offer clear recommendations on safely holding gatherings.
The Liquor Control Commission voted 3-0 to approve an emergency rule that would prevent the sale of alcohol at all liquor-permitted establishments beginning at 10:00 pm each night with consumption required by 11:00 pm.
Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health will issue a health order requiring that K-12 children wear face coverings while at school. The new mandate comes after the Ohio Children's Hospital Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter issued a joint letter recommending widespread use of masks in schools.
Governor DeWine announced that Ohio is entering into a multi-state purchasing agreement with Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia to expand the use of rapid point-of-care tests. More rapid point-of-care testing will help Ohio detect outbreaks sooner with faster turnaround time, expand testing in congregate settings, and make testing more accessible for the most high-risk and hard-hit communities.
The governor continued a travel advisory for all individuals coming into Ohio from states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15% or higher. Those traveling from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, and Nevada.
The self-quarantine recommendation applies to those who live in Ohio and to people who are traveling into Ohio from any of these states. Ohio's positivity rate, an indicator of the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, was 5.6% over the last 7 days (down from 6.1%). Visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for tips on how to effectively quarantine.
OhioMeansJobs.com currently has close to 170,000 job postings, with 94,000 (55%) paying between $30,000 - $79,000. Approximately 109,000 jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree, while 45,000 require either a bachelors or associate degree.
Ohio continued to see a decrease in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 1,202 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,307 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate over the course of the week.
Michigan State Updates: 7/29 - 8/4
Governor Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2020-08 to direct state departments and agency heads to review allocation of their resources to ensure that enforcement of COVID-19-related laws is a priority, such as limitations on capacity and the requirement to wear a mask when entering a Michigan business. Cases have risen over the past month—from a rolling seven-day average of about 15 cases per million in mid-June, the low point since the peak last April, to about 50 cases per million in late July.
The governor’s directive, therefore, requires state departments and agencies to ensure that enforcement of COVID-19-related laws receives the priority that fighting a pandemic demands. Under the directive, directors and agency heads should assign elevated priority to enforcement of COVID-19-related laws in categories of establishments where transmission is well-documented, including, but not limited to, nursing homes, meat processing plants, and agricultural housing.
Executive Directive 2020-08 requires departments to consider violations of law when determining eligibility for licensing. This includes any violation of relevant COVID-19 executive orders or epidemic orders. If a state department or agency becomes aware of non-compliance under the law they must consider it to be presumptive evidence of a “public health hazard” or “imminent and substantial hazard to the public health” and take appropriate steps to mitigate any risk to public health and safety. This includes, but is not limited to, suspension of a license or cessation of operation of a food establishment.
The Michigan State Police will enforce violations of these COVID-19 related laws, such as executive orders and DHHS epidemic orders, in the same manner as any other violation of law, applying their discretion as appropriate. Departments and agencies who become aware of a violation must share that information with relevant licensing authorities, and collaborate on enforcement to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
Michigan saw an slight increase in new COVID-19 cases with an average of 696 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 636 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers have fluctuated over the course of the week.
Kentucky State Updates: 7/29 - 8/4
To reinforce the effectiveness of wearing a face covering, Governor Beshear unveiled MaskUpKY, a new statewide public service campaign aimed at encouraging the use of masks by everyone in the commonwealth, along with a new hashtag – #MaskUpKY – to promote facial coverings on social media. “We know that if we can get the majority of Kentuckians to wear a mask when you go in public, we can make a major difference,” the Governor said. “If we want to get our kids back in school, reopen our economy, keep each other safe and get to a new normal, we need every Kentuckian to wear a mask or facial covering. It’s that simple.”
On Friday, July 31, Governor Beshear stated, “Our positivity rate has decreased for the third straight day. But, we still have too many cases and, we need to do everything we can to try to decrease those. We’re also seeing an increase of patients in the ICU. Facial coverings work. They are our best chance of saving lives and protecting the health of our people, ensuring our economy can stay open, and getting our kids back in school.”
Today, Lt. Governor Coleman said the state will provide expanded flexibility in the way districts provide online instruction. “A lot of districts are moving to digital platforms. We have received requests to allow more flexibility for a variety of school staff to facilitate and support classes in online platforms,” Lt. Gov. Coleman said. “We have listened, and the Governor has issued an executive order to enact these changes. The goal of all of this is to empower our schools to meet the needs of the students and the parents where they are.”
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, provided an update on the known long-term side effects of COVID-19. In children, it can cause multisystem inflammatory disorder, rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, shock and heart damage. In young adults, COVID-19 can cause blood clotting disorders, including strokes and pulmonary embolisms. One in five young adults still have symptoms 14 to 21 days after being diagnosed. In severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or more. Adults 50 years old or older are twice as likely as young adults to have symptoms 14 to 21 days after diagnosis. Finally, COVID-19 survivors of any age may have long-term, irreversible lung damage.
Dr. Steven Stack reminded everyone, “Gatherings should be limited to 10 or fewer guests, especially informal ones going on in backyards, parks, lakes and similar settings. The commonly more personal, informal social behavior in these situations is a big risk. If you and your guests are not keeping at least a six-foot social distance, frequently washing your hands, and if you’re not wearing masks, this spreads the disease. It places the people you care about most at risk, and it endangers others if they spread the disease throughout the community.” He cautioned saying, “I don’t want to sound like an alarmist, but a big part of this is about the decisions made and behaviors practiced by every one of us as individuals. Public gatherings and social activities can be tinderboxes for COVID-19 transmission. Until we get a vaccine or cure to neutralize this threat, we all must continue practicing social distancing and wearing masks.”
First Lady Britainy Beshear on Tuesday announced a new program, Coverings for Kids, which helps Kentuckians to donate facial coverings directly to local school districts. The First Lady said facial coverings are proven to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus and are critical to reopening schools safely and keeping children, educators and families safe. The First Lady and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman unveiled the campaign to school district leaders Tuesday afternoon during a webcast with superintendents hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). The First Lady said each district will choose how donated coverings are distributed. Most districts plan to give coverings to children who may need extra coverings, knowing that students may lose or break their masks or get them dirty throughout the school day. Donations also will be provided to teachers. School districts will set up donation centers and appoint local coordinators. The Office of the First Lady and Office of the Lieutenant Governor, through KDE, will provide each school district with a donation tracking form for intake and an outreach packet, including language, graphics, drafted social media posts and emails for promotion.
New COVID-19 cases stayed linear in Kentucky this week, with an average of 582 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 581 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.