A new health order from Gov. Mike DeWine will eliminate the requirement for some people to quarantine if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
It applies to all Ohioans who are fully vaccinated. Under the previous order a person would have to spend two weeks at home so as not to spread the virus to other people.
At his briefing Tuesday, DeWine pointed to the impact the new order will have on high school students who can be vaccinated at age 16 and 17.
If they come into contact with someone with the virus, they will no longer have to stay home from school for two weeks and miss class and extra-curricular activities.
“I know that high school athletes, people in extra-curricular activities, a number of other things, that’s been very tough for them is that if they were exposed outside of the classroom they had to quarantine,” DeWine said.
So far 3.5 million Ohioans are fully vaccinated, amounting to 30.7 percent of the state’s population.
DeWine’s latest strategy for vaccine distribution is boosting convenience.
On Tuesday, he extended the mass vaccination site in downtown Cleveland for another month.
He also has directed more of the vaccine to family doctors, saying some people do not want to get the shot at a mass site with hundreds of other people and prefer to see their own doctor for it. DeWine said he supports businesses that are encouraging employees to be vaccinated.
“We know that some businesses are offering incentives to employees, sometimes its cash, sometimes its days off,” DeWine said.
He added though that he would not tell them to do it and he would not tell them not to do it, it is up to each individual business to decide how they would handle it.
Demand for the vaccine has changed dramatically over the last two months. Some people in March and early April were searching for the vaccine and willing to go to other counties to get it.
Now, DeWine noted, demand has leveled off a bit. He’s left with looking for ways to promote more acceptance by people who were too busy or on the fence about getting the vaccine. “There no magic bullet. I think our obligation is to make it as convenient as we can,” DeWine said.
Cox Media Group
