Complete Story
07/08/2020
Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky COVID-19 Updates
Ohio State Press Conference Summary: 7/1 - 7/7
Governor DeWine announced on July 7 a new Ohio Department of Health order that will mandate face coverings in public in all counties that are designated as a Red Alert Level 3 Public Health Emergency or a Purple Alert Level 4 Public Health Emergency. The order went into effect at 6:00 PM on Wednesday July 8.
Currently seven counties are designated at Red Alert Level 3 which indicates that those in these counties have a high risk of exposure and spread:
- Butler County
- Cuyahoga County
- Franklin County
- Hamilton County
- Huron County
- Montgomery County
- Trumbull County
OhioMeansJobs.com currently has over 150,000 job postings, with 83,000 (55%) paying between $30,000 - $79,000. Approximately 98,000 jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree, while 38,000 require either a bachelor’s degree or associate degree.
Governor DeWine announced new guidance for resuming school in the fall. The newly issued guidance report advises schools to vigilantly assess symptoms, wash and sanitize hands to prevent spread, thoroughly clean and sanitize the school environment to limit spread on shared surfaces, practice social distancing, and implement a face coverings policy. To assist schools in their efforts to implement the guidance, the Ohio Department of Education has created a document titled, “The Reset and Restart Education Planning Guide for Ohio Schools and Districts,” which is designed to help teachers, principals, and administrators with solutions to safety challenges. The document provides resources and information for community decision-makers as they contemplate how to reopen safely. Details on the new school guidance are available on coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Ohio continued to see an increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 1,045 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 872 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 7/1 - 7/7
After nearly three months of declining new unemployment claims as the economic impact of COVID-19 slowed, claims spiked in Michigan last week. An increase of 90 percent from the week prior, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday, July 2. Only eight states saw larger claims last week. It's unclear why Michigan's unemployment trend reversed, but recent spikes in COVID-19 cases could lead to more layoffs.
Michigan small businesses and agricultural companies that have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak have a new federally backed relief program to tap into. The board of the Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday morning authorized a total of $15 million for agricultural businesses, and another $100 million for the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. The funds were appropriated by the state Legislature and come from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the state and various local units of government with nearly $3.9 billion.
The agricultural relief program will cover costs over the time period of June 1 to Sept. 15 and applications will open on July 15. The small business relief grants, meanwhile, will be distributed to local economic development organizations (EDOs) representing Michigan's 83 counties. At least 30 percent of the loans will be allocated to women, minority or veteran-owned businesses.
Michigan saw a another increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 394 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 320 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers have fluctuated over the course of the week.
Kentucky State Press Conference Summary: 7/1 - 7/7
As of July 7, Governor Beshear said there were at least 17,519 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 371 of which were newly reported Tuesday. “Today is a tough day in our fight against the coronavirus. While we’ve long noted that case numbers fluctuate due to differences in reporting – and that weekends often see lower tallies that sometimes catch up during the week – today’s numbers are cause for serious concern,” the Governor said. “We have worked too long and hard, and sacrificed too much, to squander the gains we have made in this fight. However, the only way to secure our safety is to recommit ourselves to doing what we all know is required of us: washing our hands frequently, staying at least six feet from others, avoiding crowds, getting tested frequently and cooperating with contact tracers if they call with information.”
“This remains a very serious global health challenge. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s foremost infectious disease expert, said we are ‘still knee-deep in the first wave’ of coronavirus infections here in the U.S.,” the Governor said. “The number of positive cases has been rising across the nation. Although eventually there will be a vaccine, we need to be mindful that it will not be perfected or ready to distribute anytime soon. We therefore must remain vigilant to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
Vowing to protect Kentuckians from unfairly being overcharged for goods or services during the pandemic, Gov. Beshear again extended his executive order prohibiting price gouging. Anyone with information about unfair sales or billing practices is encouraged to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection hotline at 888-432-9257 or fill out the complaint form online.
Kentucky saw a large weekly increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 275 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 212 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.
