Coronavirus In Ohio: Live Coverage

WOSU is providing updates about the coronavirus and COVID-19 in Ohio. Find the most recent news and information below.

Ohio by the numbers, according to the Ohio Department of Health:

• 19,861 COVID-19 deaths among Ohio residents
• 1,101,934 cases of COVID-19, 179,488 of those probable
• 59,155 people hospitalized, 8,122 in ICU
• 13,159,845 total tests administered

All of WOSU’s coverage of the coronavirus outbreak can be found here.

Ohio's coronavirus call centeris open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The hotline number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH or 1-833-427-5634.

Has your job been impacted by the coronavirus? You may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Visit unemployment.ohio.gov to learn more and apply.

Find information on the coronavirus vaccine, if you're eligible, and where to receive it here.

Latest Updates

Sunday, May 30

1:57 p.m. Ohio reports 585 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The 21 day average of new cases is 873. The state also reported 11 new hospitalizations and no new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

Saturday, May 29

Ohio reports 660 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 51 new hospitalizations and for new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

Friday, May 28

Ohio reports 660 new COVID-19 cases in the last day and 108 deaths since Tuesday. The 21 day average of new cases is 926. The state also reported 81 new hospitalizations and 14 new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

Thursday, May 27

1:51 p.m. Ohio reports 732 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The 21 day average of new cases is 961. The state also reported 111 new hospitalizations and 11 new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

Wednesday, May 26

7:35 p.m. A southwestern Ohio woman was announced as the first winner of Ohio’s $1 million Vax-a-Million vaccination incentive prize. The state also announced a Dayton-area teen is the first winner of the program’s full-ride college scholarship.

2:24 p.m. Ohio reports 987 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The 21 day average of new cases is below 1,000 for the first time since last fall. The state also reported 97 new hospitalizations and 18 new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

Tuesday, May 25

3:56 p.m. The Columbus Clippers announced home games at Huntington Park will return to full capacity starting on June 15. Once the stadium returns to full capacity, face masks and social distancing will not be required. Tickets for games played after the stadium is at full capacity will go on sale starting June 1.

3:45 p.m. Ohio reports 727 new COVID-19 cases in the last day and 44 new deaths since Friday. The state also reported 126 new hospitalizations and 13 new ICU admissions in the last 24 hours.

1:12 p.m. Franklin County Board of Public Health has rescinded its face mask mandate for vaccinated people to align with CDC guidelines.

Monday, May 24

2:04 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• 2,758,470 residents have signed up for the Ohio Vax-A-Million drawings. 104,386 students between 12 and 17 have registered for the scholarship drawing. DeWine said the five million-dollar drawings have earned the vaccination effort $15 million worth of earned media.
• DeWine said that the state is seeing an increase in vaccinations among several age groups. 16 to 17-year-olds have seen a 94% increase in vaccinations, 18 and 19-year-olds have seen a 46% increase, and 20 to 49-year-olds have seen a 55% increase.
• Ohio's case rate is 89.8 per 100,000 residents.
• DeWine said that although health orders are set to be lifted June 2, standard practices for isolating infected people and quarantining exposed people should still be adhered to. Vaccinated people would not need to be quarantined.

1:39 p.m. Ohio reports 566 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 88 new hospitalizations and eight new ICU admissions.

Sunday, May 23

Ohio reports 683 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 29 new hospitalizations and three new ICU admissions.

Saturday, May 22

3:47 pm. Ohio reports 871 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 60 new hospitalizations and 10 new ICU admissions.

Thursday, May 20

4:13 pm. Ohio reports 1,208 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 125 hospitalizations and 19 ICU admissions.

Wednesday, May 19

Ohio reports 918 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 104 hospitalizations and six ICU admissions.

Tuesday, May 18

Ohio reports 933 new COVID-19 cases in the last day and 100 new deaths since Friday. The state also reported 118 hospitalizations and 15 ICU admissions.

Monday, May 17

2:05 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said new health orders concerning masks will be released this afternoon. The updated orders will reflect new CDC guidelines. Vaccinated people will not have to wear masks but some settings will require them and businesses can require them if they wish.
• Pediatricians can sign up to be vaccine providers for the Pfizer vaccine now that it is approved for 12 to 17-year-olds.
• The state's positive case rate is 106.9 per 100,000 people, continuing its downward trend.
• DeWine cited anecdotal evidence that there are more people getting the vaccine since the announcement of the Ohio Vax-a-Million drawings.

11:15 a.m. The Ohio Department of Health announced that residents who have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine will have to register online or by phone to be entered into the Vax-a-Million program. The website ohiovaxamillion.com will launch Tuesday. Alternatively, you can call 833-4-ASK-ODH.

Sunday, May 16

Ohio reports 618 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 42 hospitalizations and nine ICU admissions.

Saturday, May 15

Ohio reports 919 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 21 hospitalizations and five ICU admissions.

Friday, May 14

3:50 p.m. Ohio reports 1,014 new COVID-19 cases in the last day and 87 new deaths since Tuesday. The state also reported 105 hospitalizations and 10 ICU admissions.

Thursday, May 13

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• Ohio's COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 dropped to 119.9, down from 123 on Wednesday.
• The $1 million sweepstakes will start on May 26 for five straight week and will be held at 7:29 p.m. by the Ohio Lottery. To be eligible for the sweepstakes, people must be 18-years-old and older, an Ohio resident and must be vaccinated against COVID-19
• DeWine said nearly five million Ohioans have received the vaccine.
• DeWine said Ohio will stop participating in the $300 weekly federal bonus unemployment payment program on June 26. DeWine said waiting to end the program in late June gives people time to get vaccinated and try to find employment. The payments were slated to expire on September 6.

1:55 p.m. Ohio reports 1,161 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 91 hospitalizations and two ICU admissions.

Tuesday, May 11
1:52 p.m. Ohio reports 1,411 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 143 hospitalizations and 15 ICU admissions. The state also reported 13 new deaths since Friday.

Monday, May 10
1:51 p.m. Ohio reports 713 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 87 hospitalizations and 18 ICU admissions.

Monday, May 3

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine announced a new health order exempting fully vaccinated employees of nursing homes from routine testing. Non-vaccinated workers will be tested twice a week.
• The Ohio Departments of Aging and Health have put together a homebound vaccination playbook for organizations working to ensure homebound individuals have access to the vaccine.
• The latest case rate is 147.9 cases per 100,000 people.
• The Cleveland Indians are offering discounts on tickets for those who have been vaccinated.
• DeWine showed a new graph displaying trends in vaccination rates by age and new cases by age. Those 19 years old and younger show a 15% increase in cases.

Sunday, May 2

2:08 p.m. Ohio reports 985 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 64 hospitalizations and 12 ICU admissions.

Tuesday, April 27

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine announced that Ohioans who have been fully vaccinated no longer have to be quarantined after exposure to someone with COVID-19. This health order change does not apply to nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• 4.6 million residents have received at least the first dose of the vaccine and 3.6 million are now fully vaccinated, DeWine said.

Monday, April 26

2:58 p.m. Ohio reports 1,396 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 128 hospitalizations and 12 ICU admissions.

6:35 a.m. Ohio Health is expanding the number of visitors patients can have at hospitals. Starting tomorrow patients can have up to two visitors per day. Visitors will be able to leave the patient room or hospital and come back into the building, but must be masked and not having any COVID-19 symptoms.

Sunday, April 25

2:10 p.m. Ohio reports 873 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. It is the first time the number of daily cases has been under 900 since March 14. The state also reported 44 hospitalizations and eight ICU admissions.

Saturday, April 24

2:05 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,526 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 81 hospitalizations and 6 ICU admissions.

Friday, April 23

2:04 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,788 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 114 hospitalizations and 10 ICU admissions. Ohio also added 89 deaths since Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 21

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said that new cases seem to have plateaued but hospitalizations are still up.
• DeWine said 38% of Ohioans have received their first dose of a vaccine. About 29,000 first doses were given in a single day recently but that number was as high as 80,000 in the past. Over 18% of 16 and 17-year-olds have gotten their first dose.

Sunday, April 18

2:24 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,076 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 27 hospitalizations and no ICU admissions.

Saturday, April 17

2:04 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,987 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 83 hospitalizations and 12 ICU admissions.

Friday, April 16

2:01 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,003 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 151 hospitalizations and 15 ICU admissions. Ohio also added 74 deaths since Tuesday.

Thursday, April 15

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said that more than 2,100 new cases have been reported in Ohio in the last 24 hours.
• More than 36% of Ohioans have received at least one dose of vaccine, DeWine said.
• The statewide average of cases per 100,000 residents is 200. That is up from 184 last week. Hospitalization numbers are also trending up.
• Franklin County went to "purple," the most severe level in the state's health advisory system. This is because of cases going up and because medical visits are up in several settings.

Tuesday, April 13

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said that he learned on a call with the Biden administration that the pause of the Johnson & Johnson is expected to be relatively short, a matter of days or weeks rather than weeks or months.
• Most sites that were administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will continue with the other two available vaccines.
• Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff of the Ohio Health Department said it is important to remember that cases of blood clots are exceedingly rare, just 6 cases out of 6.8 million. This pause should illustrate just how much safety and transparency are top priorities for the CDC and FDA, he said.
• Dr. Mysheika Roberts of Columbus Public Health said that people who have had Johnson & Johnson shot recently should watch for these symptoms: bad headache, change in vision, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, swelling in extremities, consistent nausea and vomiting.

1:30 p.m. The city of Dublin announced that it will not host the Dublin Irish Festival in Coffman Park this summer. Instead, it will organize a Dublin Irish Days series of events that will "celebrate the traditions of the Festival, while prioritizing the health and safety of participants."

8:57 a.m. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and state health officials are advising all Ohio vaccine providers to temporarily pause the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

There are reports of apparently rare, potentially dangerous blood clots, according to NPR. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday they are recommending a "pause" in the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an "abundance of caution" while an investigation is conducted.

Sunday, April 11

2:07 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,855 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 31 hospitalizations and two ICU admissions.

Saturday, April 10

2:10 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,048 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 87 hospitalizations and 11 ICU admissions.

Friday, April 9

1:38 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,946 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 119 hospitalizations and 12 ICU admissions. Ohio also added 86 deaths since Tuesday.

Thursday, April 8

2:02 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said he is recommending that the state use a portion of its federal COVID relief and recovery dollars to pay off the $1.4 billion Unemployment Insurance loan owed to the federal government.
• On Monday, vaccine providers can partner with employers and other organizations, such as churches or unions, to set up clinics.
• DeWine said that the case rate is up to 183.7 cases per 100,000 Ohioans. That number was 167 last week. Hospitalization numbers are also up.
• Franklin County is now on the watch list to go purple, or Level 4, on Ohio's Public Health Advisory System.
• Health Dept. Medical Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the state is seeing this increase in cases because of the new variants of the virus. He said the B117 variant is more contagious and more deadly.
• Dr. Dustin Fleck of Dayton Children's Hospital addressed the risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. The disease can develop weeks after the onset of COVID infection. The risk is relatively low but parents and caregivers should be aware of the symptoms: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling of hands/feet, redness of eyes.

2:00 p.m. The Ohio State University announced that attendance for the April 17 football game at the Ohio Stadium will be capped at 19,180. Tickets will be reserved for 10,000 front-line healthcare workers. 4,500 seats will be available to the general public and 2,500 for students.

1:40 p.m. The Ohio State Fair will be closed to the public this summer, the second year in a row that the massive event has been curtailed by the coronavirus. Slated to begin July 19, the fair won't include its usual slate of rides, live entertainment or food vendors, but rather focus on agriculture and livestock events.

Wednesday, April 7

2:01 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,064 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also reported 169 hospitalizations, the highest single-day increase in several weeks, and 13 ICU admissions.

Tuesday, April 6

9:22 a.m. A group representing Asian American neighbors in Upper Arlington say that Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has agreed to meet with them,after a letter expressing their fears and concerns over his recent tweet about the "Wuhan virus."

Monday, April 5

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said the state is contacting high schools to encourage vaccination with Pfizer shot, which is approved for those 16 years old and older.
• Health Department orders will be simplified to stress the basics: masks, physical distance, hand washing, and limiting the size of gatherings, DeWine said. ODH director Stephanie McCloud said the mass gatherings ban will end, but groups within larger events should be limited to 10 persons or less. Total attendance will still be limited.
• Under the new order, proms, graduations, events, and festivals can occur but will need to follow safety guidelines.
• Ohio RISE is a new system of managed care for children with complex needs and multiple diagnoses. The program will coordinate care between multiple agencies and stop the need for families to relinquish guardianship of children to get the care they need. Aetna will be the vendor working through Medicare.

Saturday, April 3

2:00 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reported 2,293 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 63 hospitalizations and four ICU admissions. It's the third time in a week that Ohio topped 2,000 new infections.

• Ohio's coronavirus numbers will not be updated Sunday in observance of the Easter holiday. Instead, Monday's numbers will reflect increases from April 4 and 5.

Friday, April 2

1:52 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reported 1,677 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, the lowest increase since Monday, along with 74 hospitalizations and eight ICU admissions. Ohio also added 34 more deaths since Tuesday.

8:30 a.m. Ohio Senate president Matt Huffman (R-Lima) says state lawmakers will be ready to use their new power to lift public health orders if Gov. Mike DeWine doesn’t. Because the House and Senate overrode DeWine’s veto on SB22, the new law giving lawmakers the authority to rescind a governor’s health order or state of emergency takes effect in mid-June — when the legislature is already in session to discuss the budget.

Thursday, April 1

2:05 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine announced a new mass vaccination clinic in Seneca County that will open next week.
• Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said that cases are going up in Ohio and across the country. Variants of the coronavirus are the cause of this uptick, especially in areas near the border with Michigan.
• DeWine said the statewide case rateper 100,000 people is up from 150 to 167. That's more than three times the benchmark of 50 cases per 100,000 people that DeWine set to lift public health orders.
• Local health departments are leading the effort to give vaccines to those who are homebound, DeWine said.
• Next week, the state will start a program to try to vaccinate every college student in the state who wants one. DeWine said this will increase the percentage of this age group who get vaccinated. Evidence shows that college students are significant carriers of the virus, he said.
• DeWine announced an effort to offer vaccines at some job sites and other businesses, beginning the week of April 12. Providers can use up to 25% of their vaccine allotment for this purpose.

2:00 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,475 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 93 hospitalizations and nine ICU admissions.

9:17 a.m. Dozens of Asian Americans who live in the same Columbus suburb as Lt. Gov. Jon Husted have penned a letter expressing their concerns with his “Wuhan virus” tweetand their fears of safety in Ohio. "We want to believe that you did not have as your goal to make your neighbors feel even more frightened and even more vulnerable. So, we are sharing our fear with you," the letter reads.

8:28 a.m. Ohio is working on guidelines that will spell out when private clinics will able to start giving COVID-19 shots at workplaces, churches and schools. Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration told health care providers last week to stop scheduling clinics that aren’t open to the public.

• A handful of these nonpublic vaccination clinics have popped up in recent weeks at offices, union halls and factories in the Toledo area for employees and their families, but state officials told providers to take a temporary pause because it first wants to make sure that there are enough doses for everyone.

Wednesday, March 31

1:47 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,989 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 108 hospitalizations and 13 ICU admissions.

• As of Wednesday, Ohio has given the coronavirus vaccine to 3.39 million people, or 29% of the state’s population. Of those, 1.95 million (16.7%) are fully vaccinated

1:30 p.m. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is defending a controversial tweet in which he referred to COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus," as advocates warn such rhetoric is a driving force behind violence against Asian Americans.

• Husted says the tweet was to criticize the Chinese government for what he says is its role in the spread of the virus. But a report from the World Health Organization says it is extremely unlikely that the virus emerged accidentally from a Chinese laboratory, and rather was likely spread from animals to humans.

Tuesday, March 30

1:59 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,458 new COVID-19 cases in the last day as infections rise again, along with 151 hospitalizations and seven ICU admissions. The state also added 83 more deaths since Friday.

• As of Tuesday, Ohio has given the coronavirus vaccine to 3,322,481 people, or 28.4% of the population. Of those, 1,907,577 people (16.3%) are fully vaccinated.

Monday, March 29

1:48 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,497 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also logged 103 hospitalizations and 22 new ICU admissions.

1:40 p.m. COSI has announced it will reopen to the public on Thursday, June 3. To start, the science center will be open four days a week, Thursday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Reservations will be required and face masks required for all guests 6-years-old and up.

• COSI had previously tried to reopen in July and November 2020, but had to change plans due to increased COVID-19 cases in Franklin County.

8:00 a.m. The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for all Ohioans ages 16 and older. Find a provider and schedule an appointment at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

Sunday, March 28
2:20 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,019 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also logged 27 hospitalizations and no new ICU admissions.

Saturday, March 27
1:56 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,690 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also logged 37 hospitalizations and four ICU admissions.

Friday, March 26

1:44 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 2,742 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, the fourth day in a row that new cases have increased. The state also logged 111 hospitalizations and 14 ICU admissions. The state also added 144 more coronavirus deaths since Tuesday.

Thursday, March 25

2:00 p.m. Gov. DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said that more mass vaccination sites will be opening up. There will be 11 stationary sites and 4 mobile clinics. These should start operation on Wednesday if vaccine doses come in as expected.
• The state expects 571,460 doses of all three vaccines next week. That's the highest amount Ohio has received, DeWine said.
• DeWine said that the state's vaccine scheduling system will soon allow those 16 and older to schedule their appointments. This comes after the DeWine allowed providers to open up appointments rather than letting doses go to waste.
• DeWine said the state will release a list of 56 nursing homes and 168 assisted living facilities that have not joined the Vaccine Maintenance Program, an effort aimed at serving those who missed or declined a vaccine during the first opportunity.

Wednesday, March 24

2:47 p.m. The Ohio Senate has voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of SB22, by a margin of 23-10. The Ohio House plans to take up the override this afternoon.

1:54 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,848 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, the third day in a row that new cases have increased. The state also logged 123 hospitalizations and 13 ICU admissions.

11:31 a.m. Multiple Ohio local health departments are sounding the alarm about legislation restricting their ability to respond to emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic. The agency heads laid out their concerns in letters to Gov. Mike DeWine, and asked the General Assembly not to override the governor's veto as House and Senate Republicans plan to do Wednesday.

• In particular, the health department leaders documented how SB22 would slow down or block local officials from ordering businesses to close or requiring residents to quarantine or isolate without a medical diagnosis.

Tuesday, March 23

4:25 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed SB22, a bill that would limit his ability to pass public health orders or issue states of emergency during a health crisis. Republican leaders in the Ohio House and Senate say they have enough votes to override DeWine's veto, and plan to meet this week to do so.

1:48 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,628 new COVID-19 cases in the last day. The state also added 42 more deaths since its last update Friday.

9:17 a.m. A mass vaccination site at Kent State University's Field House begins Tuesday for Portage County residents. It will vaccinate as many 2,000 people each Tuesday this spring. Registration is required on the county’s health district website.

Monday, March 22

2:00 p.m. Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said that pharmacies and other vaccine providers are allowed to fill unused appointment slots beyond the normal eligibility in order to not waste any doses.
• DeWine said that nursing homes and assisted living facilities must allow visitation when possible. Residents can touch visitors and can meet in residents' private room with a 30-minute minimum for visits.
• Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said that there are now 173 known variant cases in Ohio. He said that it is important therefore to keep masking and social distancing.
• DeWine said he will veto SB22, a bill which would drastically limit the power of the state to issue health orders. He said he sent a letter to lawmakers hoping for a compromise.

1:38 p.m. Ohio has surpassed the milestone of 1 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. The state logged 1,444 new cases in the last day, along with 78 hospitalizations and 13 ICU admissions.

11:14 a.m. Gov. Mike DeWine has informed lawmakers that he will follow through and veto SB22, a Republican bill that would restrict states of emergency and allow the legislature to revoke public health orders. 

• DeWine has said the bill, which passed without any Democratic votes, is unconstitutional.
• Leaders of the Ohio House and Senate have said they have enough support to override DeWine's veto.

10:15 a.m. Speaking at a mass vaccination clinic in Youngstown, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he authorized county health departments and vaccine providers to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 16 years old and above, if those providers have empty appointment slots to fill.

9:15 a.m. High school students will have the ability to earn a diploma in Ohio based on course grades rather than final exams, under a bill signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine over the weekend. The new law eases guidelines for high school graduation in response to the challenges students and schools have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sunday, March 21

2:00 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 931 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 30 hospitalizations and two ICU admissions. 

Saturday, March 20

2:00 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,483 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 50 hospitalizations and five ICU admissions. 

Friday, March 19

2:00 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,551 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 56 hospitalizations and seven ICU admissions. The state also added 348 more coronavirus deaths since Tuesday. 

9:02 a.m. Today marks one year since the first coronavirus death in Ohio.

8:33 a.m. Ohioans over the age of 40, plus people with additional qualifying health conditions, are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. You can find a nearby provider and schedule your shot here.

Thursday, March 18

2:05 p.m. Gov. DeWine's press conference.

• DeWine said the state is opening up elibibility to vaccines because more vaccine doses are expected.
• DeWine acknowledged that signing up for a vaccines online is not easy or possible for all. He said the state hotline is available to schedule a vaccine appointments: 1-833-427-5634 
• The two-week case rate is going down steadily to 143.8 cases per 100,000 Ohioans this week. All health orders will be lifted when the state reaches 50 cases per 100,000 people.
• Ohio’s long-term care facilities reported 70 new COVID-19 cases this week, DeWine said. There were 157 new cases reported last week. The peak was 2,832 cases reported back in December.
• The Bureau of Workers' Compensation is expanding the eligibility to the COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program. Now, intermediate care facilities, hospices, senior centers, adult care facilities, and substance abuse treatment centers are eligible.

9:00 a.m. Mass vaccination clinics have opened today in Columbus at Ohio State's St. John Arena, and in Cincinnati at Xavier University's Cintas Center.

• Ohioans over the age of 40 are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine starting tomorrow. Other newly-eligible groups include patients with cancer, heart disease, obesity and other conditions. You can find a nearby provider and schedule your shot here.

Wednesday, March 17

4:49 p.m. Ohio students would have extra time to take state-mandated tests interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, under an emergency measure passed unanimously by the Ohio House. The Senate approved final changes to the bill before sending it back to the House, where it passed Wednesday in a rare 92-0 vote, just days before testing was set to begin.

1:47 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,458 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 81 hospitalizations and eight ICU admissions.

10:30 a.m. President Joe Biden is scheduled to come to Columbus next Tuesday, to promote the newly-signed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan. His visit falls on the anniversary of the signing of the "Affordable Care Act."

9:10 a.m. Cleveland’s mass COVID vaccine clinic opens to the public Wednesday, and thousands are expected receive shots at the Wolstein Center. It will run for eight weeks, giving out first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine for the first six weeks, then moving to the Johnson & Johnson one-dose shot for last two.

Tuesday, March 16

2:18 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,883 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 114 hospitalizations and 10 ICU admissions. Ohio also added 121 more deaths since Friday, bringing the death total to 17,992.

10:30 a.m. Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Ohio will expand vaccine eligibility to all residents over 40 years old on Friday, March 19, along with cancer patients, people with heart disease, chronic kidney disease and other medical groups. And on March 29, everyone over the age of 16 will become eligible for the vaccine.

• Currently, none of the three coronavirus vaccines in production (Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) are FDA approved for patients under 16.

Monday, March 15

1:43 p.m. The Ohio Department of Health reports 1,149 new COVID-19 cases in the last day, along with 91 hospitalizations and nine ICU admissions.

8:36 a.m. Just days after President Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan," qualifying Ohioans will start to see direct payments in their accounts as soon as this week.

• Individuals who make up to $75,000 per year can expect to receive up to $1,400 from the package; married couples who make up to $150,000 per year will receive $2,800. And those with children or adult dependents can expect $1,400 for each one.

Read Previous Updates From January 1-March 14, 2021