Gov. DeWine: Extra $300 federal unemployment benefit to end in June

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the state will end paying out the $300 extra federal unemployment benefit on June 26, returning the state to pre-pandemic unemployment programs.

>> Gov. DeWine announces health orders to be lifted on June 2, $1 million drawings to begin May 26

The announcement came along with additional details on the lifting of health orders on June 2 and the Ohio Vax-a-million lottery.

The following announcements were made during the Thursday news conference:

• All kids age 12 and up are now able to get the Pfizer vaccine in the state of Ohio.
• The state currently sits at 119.9 cases per 100,000 people. “The drop has been fairly consistent for some time now,” DeWine said.
• Over 26,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were reported to ODH today, pushing the state closer to 5 million Ohioans vaccinated.
• The state is seeing a steady drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations, now with less than 1,000 statewide.
• The state will lift health orders on June 2. “When you wake up basically the health orders will be off,” DeWine said.
• DeWine said the Vax-a-million lottery was his idea.
• On Wednesday nights at 7:29 p.m. on WHIO-TV beginning on May 26, the state will use the Ohio Lottery time slot to air the drawings for the $1 million winners for those who have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. DeWine said he spoke to the House Speaker and Senate President prior to making the announcement and neither expressed any concern, DeWine said. “I did not go into this thinking that everyone was going to think it was a great idea,” DeWine said. “This is one tool we have not used.”
• On May 26, Ohio will announce the winner of a drawing of all those 17 years-old and under who are vaccinated. The winner will receive a full, four-year scholarship to our state universities. Those drawings will happen for five weeks and will also be announced in the Ohio Lottery 7:29 p.m. timeslot on WHIO-TV.
• Ohio’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, which DeWine said is well below the national average. DeWine said he’s being told numerous businesses, including restaurants, are having a hard time finding people to work. DeWine said the state will notify the federal government that Ohio will end payments of the extra $300 federal unemployment benefit on June 26. “In some cases it’s certainly discouraging people,” DeWine said. “The assistance was always meant to be temporary.” This move will put Ohio back to its traditional pre-pandemic unemployment system, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said.

Cox Media Group