Coronavirus Pandemic: What you need to know Tuesday

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine held an afternoon briefing to provide an update on the state’s response to coronavirus.

The following announcements were made:

• A new list of the top 10 counties ranked by highest occurrence of COVID-19 based on cases per 100,000 residents was released. Six of the top 10 counties are in the Miami Valley: Mercer (2), Butler (3), Shelby (4), Montgomery (8), Darke (9) and Miami (10).
• Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy joined Gov. DeWine and discussed the three reasons testing is done in long term care facilities. The three reasons testing occurs include: those who are symptomatic; if someone tests positive for the virus in the facility all staff, residents are tested; also routine testing conducted based on the spread of the virus in the community.
• McElroy said she hopes to bolster the visitation rules at assisted living and nursing home in the coming days. She said she hopes to have an announcement soon.
• The state announced a new initiative to help with employment opportunities in the state. The new program is called Ohio To Work and brings together employers, nonprofits, educators, and training providers to help Ohioans reskill and restart their careers. The first Ohio To Work initiative will be launched in Cleveland/Cuyahoga County, and the state hopes to expand the effort to more areas of the state. Right now, Ohio has more than 30 employers signed on with the initiative. Ohio To Work will help someone who is out of work to identify a new career opportunity, train for it, and then be placed with an employer.
• Vandalia-Butler City Schools Superintendent Robert O’Leary spoke about some techniques the district is using to spread people out at school buildings where in-person learning is occurring. Part of the district’s plan includes having some outdoor tents for outdoor learning.
• DeWine said he expects the state and local health departments to release guidance for halloween, however that guidance is not prepared yet.
• DeWine said he respected the decision that Dr. Joan Duwve made in backing out of the Ohio Department of Health Director position last week. He said he is confident the state will be able to fill the position with a qualified candidate.

Things you need to know today, Tuesday:

• Wright State will not be able to hold an in-person commencement ceremony for the spring Class of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has decided instead to offer a virtual ceremony Oct. 24, university President Sue Edwards said late Monday afternoon.
• COVID-19 cases surge in recent weeks in Greene County, public health agency reports
• Xenia woman removes mother from nursing home amid COVID pandemic
• Flu Shot Drive Through sponsored by Kroger Health @ Nutter Center until 4 pm
• Englewood KinderCare closed for 2 weeks after positive case confirmed
• Miami Valley festivals plan drive-thru events amid pandemic

LATEST STATE DATA: As of Tuesday afternoon, there have been at least 139,485 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 4,506 deaths, and 14,481 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health. 117,130 people are presumed to have recovered from the virus in the state.

Ohio has an estimated population of approximately 11.7 million, census records show.

[ Local cases, deaths reported to Ohio Department of Health ]

There have been 2,652,164 people tested for the coronavirus in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

A total of 15,009 health care workers have tested positive which is about 11 percent of the cases.

Cox Media Group