COLUMBUS — During Gov. Mike DeWine's unusual evening press conference on Thursday, he announced what needs to happen for health orders to be lifted in Ohio.
DeWine said that when Ohio reports an average of 50 cases per 100,000 people over two weeks, he will lift all health orders, which includes the statewide mask mandate.
On Wednesday, the state reported 179 cases per 100,000. Last month, on Feb. 21, that number was 145. On Dec. 3, 2020, the state was at 731 cases per 100,000 over two weeks, DeWine said. So, in the past three months, Ohio has reduced COVID-19 cases per capita by a measure of 550 cases per 100,000.
DeWine said that cases per 100,000 people for a two-week period is a standard measure that the state has used since early in the pandemic.
Our path back is by each of us getting vaccinated when we can, and by each of us wearing masks in public. While no one will be forced to take the vaccine, the more of us who are vaccinated, the more complete our victory, and the more confidently we can put this behind us.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 4, 2021
"I can’t tell you exactly the day, and the time when we can declare victory, but we will be able to declare victory. I can’t predict how this virus will act in the coming days. No one can," DeWine said. "What we do know is this. We’re close."
Holmes County is currently the only county in the state reporting less than 50 cases based on population.
Case Rates by County by Wews WebStaff on Scribd
"Instead of going to the limit, we must go past it because that is a victory, which always found. Ohio, we must run through the paper at the end of this race. We need to keep going. We need to finish the job and we need to finish strong," DeWine said.
In the last month, DeWine was able to lift the curfew, end the stay-at-home order and reopen bars, restaurants, and gyms due to a decrease in cases.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Rebound Northeast Ohio News 5's initiative to help people through the financial impact of the coronavirus by offering one place to go for information on everything available to help and how to access it. We're providing resources on:
Getting Back to Work - Learn about the latest job openings, how to file for benefits and succeed in the job market.
Making Ends Meet - Find help on topics from rent to food to new belt-tightening techniques.
Managing the Stress - Feeling isolated or frustrated? Learn ways to connect with people virtually, get counseling or manage your stress.
Doing What's Right - Keep track of the way people are spending your tax dollars and treating your community.
We're Open! Northeast Ohio is place created by News 5 to open us up to new ways of thinking, new ways of gathering and new ways of supporting each other.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Ohio, a timeline of Governor Mike DeWine's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Northeast Ohio, and link to more information from the Ohio Department of Health, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the CDC and the WHO.
See data visualizations showing the impact of coronavirus in Ohio, including county-by-county maps, charts showing the spread of the disease, and more.
The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are now recommending the use of cloth face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Read more about the CDC's recommendation here. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a face maskfrom common household materials, without having to know how to sew.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
