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DeWine Says COVID-19 Vaccines Are Ohioans' Ticket To Get Freedom Back

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks during an interview at the Governor's Residence in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 13, 2019.
John Minchillo
/
AP
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks during an interview at the Governor's Residence in Columbus, Ohio on Dec. 13, 2019.

Gov. Mike DeWine has said he’ll lift the statewide mask mandate when Ohio gets down to 50 cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period. But that rate has been trending upward in recent days, putting the state further away from that goal. 

Two weeks ago, Ohio had 146 cases per 100,000 people. Last week that climbed to 183 cases per 100,000 - well more than three times DeWine’s target number. But he’s hoping for a decrease soon as more residents are vaccinated.  

“The vaccine is our ticket for a good spring. The vaccine is our ticket for a good summer. The vaccine is our ticket out of this pandemic. That’s how we get our freedom back," DeWine says.

DeWine made his comments after touring a shot clinic in Steubenville. Ohio is now doing more mass clinics, vaccinating people 16 and up at colleges, businesses, churches and other settings.  


Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.