Coronavirus latest: 637,032 cases in Ohio; 247,344 in Kentucky; 471,876 in Indiana – WLWT Cincinnati

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>> WELCOME TO MONDAY. IT IS TIME FOR THE EYE HOW I PRESS CONFERENCE. THIS IS ON THE HEELS OF MODERNA GETTING THERE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION. LET US LISTEN IN. >> IT WILL TALK WITH SOME OF THE STAFF AND WATCH THAT OCCURRING. WE WERE AT THE VETERANS HOME. JOHN WAS THE END GEORGETOWN AT THE VETERANS HOME THERE. IT WAS A GOOD DAY. ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO, WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE VACCINATIONS IN OUR NURSING HOMES. WE WILL GO TO ONE RIGHT NOW. WE’LL GO TO BETHANY IN CENTERVILLE. THERE YOU GUYS ARE. HOW ARE YOU? >> I AM GOOD, HOW ARE YOU? GOV. DEWINE: I AM GOOD. TELL US WHAT YOUR JOB IS THERE. >> I AM ONE OF THE LONG CARE NURSE MANAGERS. I ALSO SERVE AS THE FACILITY’S INFECTION PREVENTION IS TO. — INFECTION PREVENTION IS. GOV. DEWINE: A BIG JOB. HE STARTED VACCINATIONS THIS MORNING? WHEN DID YOU START? >> CVS GOT HERE AROUND 10:00 A.M. AND WE ROLLED OUT THE UNITS AT 11:00. GOV. DEWINE: HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? >> I AM EXCITED. OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE, EXCITED, FAMILIES WERE OVER THE MOON THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING THEM THIS EARLY. IT WAS EASY. MOST OF THEM QUESTION WHY WE WERE ASKING BECAUSE THEY WERE SO EXCITED. GOV. DEWINE: THAT IS GREAT. CAROL, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? >> I AM FINE, THANK YOU. GOV. DEWINE: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS? >> IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL THING. I AM PLEASED TO BE A PART OF IT. IT CAN BE A GREAT THING HERE IN THE FUTURE. GOV. DEWINE: READY AND ANXIOUS. WE WILL NOT HOLD YOU BACK ANYMORE. >> LET ME SEE YOUR ARM NOW THE — NOW. GOV. DEWINE: THAT DID NOT TAKE LONG. >> YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. GOV. DEWINE: THAT IS GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US WATCH AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A GREAT DAY. WE ARE HAPPY THAT THIS DAY IS HERE. THANKS A LOT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE HEADED UP NORTHEAST OHIO. A LONG WAY FROM THE CENTERVILLE AREA. IT IS GREAT. RACHEL, HOW ARE YOU? >> I’M GOOD, THANK YOU, HOW ARE YOU? IT WAS GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY. THE FACILITY WAS GREAT FOR US TO BE THERE. GOV. DEWINE: WHAT TIME DID YOU ALL START? >> AT 9:00 A.M. AND WE VACCINATED AROUND 10:00. GOV. DEWINE: THIS FACILITY IS BEING DONE BY WALGREENS, CORRECT? YOU ARE FOR WALGREENS? >> CORRECT, YES I DO. GOV. DEWINE: THINGS, SO FAR SO GOOD? >> IT HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. I’M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT. GOV. DEWINE: THAT IS GREAT. BRENDA, HOW ARE YOU? >> I AM FINE, THANK YOU. GOV. DEWINE: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ALL OF THIS? ARE YOU READY TO GO? >> I AM READY TO GO. GOV. DEWINE: I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE READY TO GET THIS DONE. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT. WHY DON’T YOU GUYS GO AHEAD AND WE WILL JUST WATCH YOU. YOU ARE WELCOME. VERY GOOD. GOV. DEWINE: HOW DID THAT WORK OUT, BRENDA? >> — >> WE WISH YOU A GOOD DAY AND WE ARE HAPPY THAT THIS DAY HAS COME. THAT WE ARE GETTING STARTED AND WE WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF OUR NURSING HOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS. GOV. DEWINE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS BEEN SUPPORTING OHIOANS ARE WORKING IN FOOD BANKS, FILLING IN FOR STAFFS SHORTAGES, SOME OF OUR NURSING FACILITIES, WORKING IN PRISONS CONDUCTING POP UP COVID-19 TESTING ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO. EVERY DAY, THE NATIONAL GUARD IS IN ONE OR TWO LOCATIONS. WE HEARD THIS WEEKEND FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES THAT THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS RECEIVED A WAIVER THAT ALLOWS THEM TO HELP THE ADMINISTRATION OF COVID-19 VACCINES. WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY JOHN HARRIS OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD. GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE GUARD HAS BEEN DOING DURING THE PANDEMIC AND WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISION YET REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE GUARD AS FAR AS THE VACCINATIONS, BUT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES AND PLACES WHERE WE WILL WANT THE GUARD TO COME IN AND GET THE JOB DONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR GORDON I’M CURRENTLY LOCATED AT THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD MEDICAL DETACHMENT. THAT UNIT IS LOCATED ON THE DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER OF COLUMBUS, ONE OF OUR MAJOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN OUR STATE. THIS UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE READINESS OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD. THE MEDICAL READINESS, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS, THIS UNIT IS COMPRISED OF PHYSICIANS, NURSES, MEDICS, PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANTS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, DENTAL ASSISTANTS, EVEN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE OFFICERS. THE PRIMARY RESPONSE ABILITY IS THE READINESS OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD TO RESPOND IN THE STATE OF OHIO. THERE ARE A FEW FULL TIMERS HERE, BUT EVERYBODY HERE IS TRADITIONAL GUARDSMEN. THAT KEEPS THEM O — ADDITIONALLY, MOST OF THE PEOPLE ASSIGNED IN THIS ORGANIZATION HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE. THAT BRINGS ANOTHER DIMENSION OF BROADENING DECISION-MAKING AND EXPERIMENT IF THAT’S EXPERIENCE FOR OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. IN ADDITION TO THIS UNIT, WE HAVE FOUR SIMILAR INSTALLATIONS IN OUR AIRBASES AROUND THE STATE AT BRING THAT SAME CAPACITY TO OUR AIR NATIONAL GUARD. THOSE FOLKS TAKE CARE OF 16,000 SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN ACROSS THE STATE. AS YOU SAID, THE GOVERNOR — THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THE HHS HAS AUTHORIZED US TO BRING THAT CAPACITY TO BEAR TO VACCINATE THE PEOPLE OF OHIO. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE GENERALLY OUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS DO NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT DIRECTLY TO THE POPULATION. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS GIVE US LESS ABILITY AS WE FIND OUT HAD TO GET THE PUBLISHING VACCINATED, BUT IT ALLOWS US TO REACH THE HARD-TO-REACH AREAS OF THE STATE AND POPULATIONS THAT MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VACCINE. I WILL TELL YOU WE WILL BE PRUDENT AND HOW WE BRING THOSE PROFESSIONALS ONTO DUTY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO NOT WANT TO DO IS THAT WE — AS WE TAKE THESE HOLES FROM THEIR CIVILIAN JOBS, WE DO NOT WANT TO DEGRADE THE CAPACITY OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY STRAINED IN THE MIDST OF THIS CORONAVIRUS. WE ARE PRUDENT ABOUT THE PARAMEDICS WOULD BRING ONTO DUTY SO WE DO NOT HARM THOSE INSTITUTIONS THAT THEY WORK FOR IN THEIR CIVILIAN JOBS. THE OTHER PIECE OF GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE HAVE VACCINES IN BOUND FOR OUR OWN SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN. THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES — THOSE GOING INTO NURSING HOMES AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, PROVIDING SUPPORT IN THE FOOD BANKS, NOW, WE CAN ENSURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT VECTORS FOR THE DISEASE. WE ARE PROTECTING THEM SO THEY ARE NOT CARRYING THE DISEASE FROM MISSION SET TO MISSION SET. IT ALLOWS US TO PROTECT THEM AS THEY GO INTO THE HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENTS SO WE ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY SPREAD OF THE DISEASE. GOVERNOR, I CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF THE SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN AND THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING. WE STAND READY TO LIVE THE GUARD CREED, WHICH IS ALWAYS READY AND ALWAYS THERE. GOV. DEWINE: WE THANK YOU AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH DURING THIS PANDEMIC. AT ANY TIME WE HAVE CALLED UPON YOU, YOU HAVE DONE IT. YOUR POINT, GENERAL, ABOUT WHAT THE GUARD HAS DONE IN REGARD TO TESTING, THAT YOU HAVE GONE TO PLACES THAT WERE UNDERSERVED, PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ASK FOR YOU TO COME IN WHERE YOU ARE NEEDED. I SUSPECT THAT IS WHAT WE WILL SEE, SIMILAR TO THAT, THAT WE WILL ASK YOU TO GO TO PLACES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED FOR WHATEVER REASON. WHEN WE GET TO A BROADER GENERAL POPULATION, IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE VACCINATE AT A HIGH RATE. CAREFULLY, OBVIOUSLY, BUT DO IT. THE NATIONAL GUARD WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ARE WAITING FOR YOUR VACCINE TODAY, RIGHT? >> WE EXPECT IT IN THE NEXT 12 HOURS? — 12 HOURS. GOV. DEWINE: THANK YOU, GENERAL. LET US GO TO OUR DATA FOR TODAY. 6548 NEW CASES. SADLY, WE HAVE 75 DEATHS REPORTED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE WENT OVER A 1000 DEATHS. — OVER 8000 DEATHS. WE HAVE 101 NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. IT IS BEST TO LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM TERM. SOME DAYS ARE UP, SOME DAYS ARE DIFFERENT. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TODAY. ERIC, LET US GO TO THE TOP. OHIO, 88 COUNTIES RANKED BY HIGHEST. WE HAVE 17 COUNTIES WITH A CASE RATE OVER 1000. AT LEAST 1% OF THE PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTIES HAVE BEEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS WITHIN THE LAST 14 DAYS. ALL OF THESE CASES ARE AT A HIGH LEVEL SOME ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN OTHERS. IF YOU GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, YOU WILL SEE FOUR COUNTIES , ONLY FOUR COUNTIES, WITH A CASE RATE BELOW 500. EVERY COUNTY EXCEPT FOUR IS AT LEAST FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE CDC DEFINITION FOR HIGH INCIDENTS. I LOOK AT THE TOP 20 COUNTIES. WYANDOTTE, JEFFERSON, HARRISON. WE HAVE A GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF THESE COUNTIES. IF YOU LOOK AT WYANDOTTE COUNTY, IT IS OVER 14 TIMES THE HIGH LEVEL POSITIVITY. WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT SPREAD CONTINUING THROUGHOUT OHIO. FOR THANKSGIVING, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT A POTENTIAL SURGE IN CASES. THANKFULLY, WE HAVE NOT SEEN CASES GO UP DRAMATICALLY. THIS MAP COMES FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, IT SHOWS DATA THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER THANKSGIVING PERIOD AS FAR AS THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE. THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS OHIOANS HAD OVER THE HOLIDAY WAS REDUCED. LET ME EXPLAIN QUICKLY HOW YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP. THIS IS COMPARING IT TO A YEAR AGO. IF YOU LOOK HERE, THIS IS A MAP THAT IS A REVERSE OF WHAT WE LOOK AT. NO CONTACTS IN THE BLUE. THE FEWER CONTACTS OF INDIVIDUALS IS IN THE BLUE. THEN IT GOES ACROSS HERE. THESE COUNTIES WOULD BE THE SAME AS 2019. WHAT THIS MEASURES — TO. IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD. TRAVEL DATA. — THE OHDOT TRAVEL DATA. WHAT WE ARE HAVING WITH WHAT WE SAW HERE, AGAIN, THESE COUNTIES ARE THE SAME AS 2019. WE WANT TO HAVE FEWER CONTACTS. THE DARKER IT GETS, THE FEWER CONTACTS THERE ARE. OVERALL, WE SHOULD BE PLEASED WITH WHAT OHIOANS DID OVER THAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. THANKSGIVING AND THE FRIDAY AFTERWARD AND THEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WHAT WE HOPE IS THAT WE WILL SEE PEOPLE PULL BACK AND BE CAREFUL, FEWER CONTACTS OVER CHRISTMAS. IT IS A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. SOME PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY’S — FAMILY CELEBRATE ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND THEN GO TO TO NEW YEAR’S. IT IS A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND WE ARE ASKING OHIOANS TO STEP UP AS THE VACCINES START COMING IN. WE HAVE TWO CONTINUE TO STAY FOCUSED ON KEEPING THE SPREAD DOWN. LET ME GO TO DR. VANDER HOFF WHO IS JOINING US NOW. DOCTOR, MAYBE YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT MAP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE COMING UP AND WHERE WE ARE IN OHIO AS FAR AS THE SPREAD? >> AS YOU INDICATED, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE THAT THROUGH THANKSGIVING, WE OHIOANS TOOK IMPORTANT STEPS TO KEEP OUR HIGH RATES OF COVID-19 FROM CLIMBING EVEN HIGHER, THEREFORE OVERWHELMING OUR HOSPITALS. OUR HOSPITALS REMAIN EXTREMELY BUSY WITH COVID-19. ADDING A SPIKE WOULD CREATE A TERRIBLE SITUATION. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING RIGHT NOW WILL SHOW UP IN WEEKS, SO AFTER NEW YEAR’S. WE CANNOT LET OURSELVES BE LEVELED WITH A SENSE OF COMPLACENCY AS WE ROLL INTO THE NEXT TWO WEEK. — TWO WEEK PERIOD. LET US REMEMBER A FEW KEY POINTS. IT IS PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAYING — STAYING SAFE IN OHIO. NUMBER ONE, YOU SHOULD STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. HOME IS THE SAFEST PLACE. WE NEED TO WEAR OUR MASKS WHENEVER WE ARE AROUND OTHERS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MASKS COVERS YOUR NOSE AS WELL AS YOUR MOUTH. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND KEEP IT SHORT. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU ARE AROUND AND THE LONGER — THE HIGHER YOUR RISK OF SHARING COVID-19. WASH YOUR HANDS, REMEMBER, YOUR MOTHER WAS RIGHT. WORK FROM HOME WHENEVER YOU CAN. KEEP ALL OF YOUR MEETINGS VIRTUAL. KEEP CELEBRATIONS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SAFE AND SMALL. REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY, THAT THE OLDER MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO COVID-19. WE NEED TO TAKE SPECIAL MEASURES TO PROTECT THEM. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE. EATING AND DRINKING WITH OTHERS IS ESPECIALLY RISKY BECAUSE THAT IS A TIME WHERE BY DEFINITION WE CANNOT WEAR OUR MASKS. WE THINK THOSE TRAVEL PLANS — RE-THINK THOSE TRAVEL PLANS. ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY ACTIVITY, LIKE A DRIVE-THRU LIGHT SHOW, VISITING VIA CALLS. THIS VIRUS, IT SPREADS FROM ME TO YOU THROUGH THE AIR AS WE BREATHE AND TALK. IT SPREADS EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS. LET US WORK HARD THIS HOLIDAY TO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE, EVEN AS WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF US GETTING VACCINES. GOV. DEWINE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I’LL ASK HIM TO PUT UP THE SLIDE WITH THE PROTOCOL. I KNOW YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT. THIS WAS A NEWSPAPER AD THAT WILL SHOW UP IN NEWSPAPERS. THIS IS THE PROTOCOL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER DAY. IT HAS THE FOUR NURSES WHO APPEARED IN THE TV AD. FOR THAT, IT SAYS WE NEED YOUR HELP. IT WAS SUMMARIZED PRETTY WELL AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENED OVER THANKSGIVING. THIS WAS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST QUOTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES. PEOPLE TOOK PRECAUTIONS. THOSE HAVE HELPED TO NOT MAKE THINGS WORSE GREAT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, BUT ENOUGH TO — NOT MAKE THINGS WORSE. THAT IS A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WE HAVE TO HANG IN THERE OVER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S. EVERY MONDAY MORNING, I AM ON A CALL WITH OVER 100 HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OVER THE STATE OHIO. THESE ARE THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE DOING WORK. THEY JUST STARTED TODAY TO GET SOME OF THE VACCINE IN. THEY WILL BE VACCINATING OUR EMS RESPONDERS AND OTHERS. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT GOING ON. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASK THEM TO DO IS CONTACT TRACING. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY RAISE TODAY HAD TO DO WITH A LACK OF INFORMATION SOMETIMES THAT IS COMING THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, WHO IS DOING THE TESTING. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMIND OUR DOCTORS AND OTHERS RUNNING TESTING TO PLEASE BE SURE TO COLLECT COMPLETE INFORMATION, INCLUDING TELEPHONE NUMBERS. THIS IS VITAL INFORMATION TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW-UP IN CASE INVESTIGATIONS AND CONTACT TRACING. WE APPRECIATE THAT. LET ME TALK — LET ME TURN OVER TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. LT. GOV. HUSTED: IT WAS EXCITING NEWS AT THE VETERANS HOMES. YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT WHEN WE WERE AT THOSE FACILITIES. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF THEM GETTING STARTED WITH THE VACCINE TODAY AGAIN. I HAVE TWO THINGS I WANT TO FOCUS ON. I KNOW THAT ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT, ON FRIDAY, WE HAD A 5.7% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND WE GAINED 29,400 JOBS, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS. THAT MARKS THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WE HAD SINCE FEBRUARY, WHICH IS MORE GOOD NEWS. WE KNOW THAT DOES NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY OF WHAT IS GOING ON FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE STILL OVER 300,000 PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING PRIOR TO THIS WHO ARE NOT WORKING FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS OR BECAUSE OF COMPLICATIONS WITH THE VIRUS. PERHAPS THEY ARE NOT TRAINED FOR THE JOB THAT RB — ARE BEING CREATED IN THE POST-COVID WORLD. THIS IS A REMINDER TO. BECAUSE THIS IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO THINK ABOUT A FRESH START IN THE NEW YEAR. THERE ARE A HUNDRED 69,000 JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OHIO JOBS.COM. NEARLY 9 — NEARLY 9000 OF THEM PAY $50,000 OR MORE. THE HIGHER PAYING REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL. MANY OF THOSE CREDENTIALS CAN BE EARNED IN WEEKS. WE HAVE A GREAT FORK — A GREAT WAY FOR YOU TO DO THAT. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR YOU OUT THERE TO GET THE TRAINING YOU NEED, ONE IS THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL MICRO CREDENTIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS TARGETED AT TECH FOCUSED CREDENTIALS, WHICH EMPLOYERS ARE DEMANDING. DO NOT THINK YOU CANNOT DO THIS. YOU CAN. THE TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE SO WONDERFUL FOR THESE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF INTEREST IN IT, THEY CAN TRAIN YOU FOR A VARIETY OF JOBS. THIS PROGRAM HAS NO COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING. THERE ARE 11 TRAINING PROVIDERS FOR 54 ELIGIBLE CREDENTIALS. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART. 37 CREDENTIALS CAN BE COMPLETED 100% ONLINE THOMAS SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE TO GET THIS TRAINING. PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU CAN GET THIS DONE IN WEEKS. YOU SHOULD VISIT IMAP. DEVELOPMENT. OHIO.GOV. CHECK THAT OUT. MAYBE IF IT IS FOR A CHILD, A GRANDDAUGHTER, A GRANDSON, YOU CAN HELP THEM GET 2021 STARTED OFF IN A BETTER LIGHT. ALONG THOSE LINES, WE KEEP WORKING ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. WE ANNOUNCE THE TEST PROJECT, THE STARLING, THAT CAN HELP US HIT THE MOST REMOTE SUPPORT — REMOTE PARTS OF OHIO. WE NEED TRAINING AND PEOPLE WITH DIGITAL DEVICES THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DOING A LOT OF THE WORK THAT PEOPLE NEED. THE STATE OF OHIO DONATED 148 COMPUTERS TO PEOPLE LAST WEEK. WE WERE JOINED WITH DAS DIRECTOR DAN SCHROEDER AND BRYAN FROM PCS FOR PEOPLE. YOU CAN DONATE YOUR DATED OR EXCESS PCS, SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE TOP-OF-THE-LINE FOR YOUR BUSINESS, BUT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR HOME USE, FOR STUDENTS, AND OTHER THINGS OUT THERE. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO PCS FOR PEOPLE OR OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT’S THAT ARE HELPING GET THESE COMPUTERS RECONDITIONED AND PREPARED FOR DISTRIBUTION, FOR FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. JUST SOME THOUGHTS AS WE ENTER THE END OF THE YEAR, TALKING ABOUT TRAINING, TALKING ABOUT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, THIS IS ONE OF THEM. GOVERNOR, BACK TO YOU. GOV. DEWINE: FIRST QUESTION. >> HELLO, GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS TODAY. SOME STATES ARE PUSHING BACK ON SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HAS OHIO SIGNED THE CDC DATA USE AGREEMENT? IF SO, HOW MUCH INFORMATION ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH SHARING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COME TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING VACCINATED AND WHEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS VACCINATED IN OHIO AS WELL. GOV. DEWINE: I DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. DO THE REST OF YOU KNOW? >> NO, I DO NOT. YOU UNCLE AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU. — GOV. DEWINE: WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. I’M NOT SURE WHAT LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION YOU HAD WITH THE BLUE JACKETS. THEY HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO START THEIR SEASON IN JANUARY. NO FANS IN THE ARENA. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THEM RESUMING PLAY IN INDOOR ARENAS? ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT BY THE END OF THEIR REGULAR SEASON, LIKELY IN MAY, THERE COULD BE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE FANS? GOV. DEWINE: THAT STARTS WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH THAT STARTS WITH THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT AND THEN IT WOULD GO FROM US. SO I’M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY REAL COMMENTS ON THAT. WE WANT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT THAT. THE CHALLENGE OF COURSE IS INSIDE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY — MANY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS HAVE VERY, VERY GOOD VENTILATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MANY TIMES YOU CANNOT FIND IN SMALLER GYMS. YOU CANNOT FIND MAYBE IN HIGH SO WE’LL HAVE TO WEIGH EVERYTHING. AS FAR AS WHERE WE’RE GOING TO BE BY MAY, WE HOPE WE’RE GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER. WE THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. VACCINE OBVIOUSLY IS NOT GOING TO REALLY AFFECT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR A WHILE. AND OF COURSE, THE FURTHER ON WE GO, MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A GOOD THING. WE ALSO HOPE THAT WHEN WE GET OUT OF WINTER AND WHEN WE GET INTO WARMER WEATHER THAT THINGS BEGIN TO GET BETTER AS WELL. SO WE ARE HOPEFUL IF YOU’RE ARE WE BETTER OFF IN JANUARY OR MAY? I CERTAINLY HOPE WE’RE GOING TO BUT WE REALLY DON’T KNOW. THIS PANDEMIC, THIS VIRUS IS, YOU KNOW, IT KEEPS TEACHING US THINGS, UNFORTUNATELY. AND WE KEEP SEEING DIFFERENT THINGS. SO, ONE WOULD THINK IT WOULD GET BETTER AS WE GO ON. APPLICATION. >> GOVERNOR, I COULD ADD. I’M NOT SURE, JUST SO WE CAN GET AARON KNOW THE PROCESS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEEK A VARIANCE FROM THE STATE OF OHIO AND TO THIS POINT, I’M NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE SOUGHT THAT VARIANCE YET. SO WE’LL WAIT TO TALK WITH THEM. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. REPORTER: HEY, GOVERNOR. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACCINE. YOU MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT TO SHOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAS BEEN VACCINATED IN OHIO. IF THAT’S UP AND READY. AND THE OTHER THING IS ABOUT THE SUPPLY. WEEK THAT WE GOT LESS DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE THAN YOU HAD INITIALLY BEEN TOLD BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. DOES THAT CONCERN YOU MOVING FORWARD INTO OTHER PHASES? GOVERNOR DEWINE: WELL IT DOES NOT CONCERN ME. YOU KNOW, WE’RE GOING TO MOVE WHATEVER THEY GIVE US. AND THEY’RE GOING TO TELL US ONCE A WEEK, AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN ORDER. OUR GOAL BE TO GET AS MUCH QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND TO GET IT INTO PEOPLE’S ARMS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD THE SAME EXPLANATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WE DID, WHICH IS THAT THEIR ESTIMATE WAS WRONG. AND LOOK, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS GOING ON HERE. AND MY GUESS IS YOU’RE GOING TO SEE OTHER DISCREPANCIES. BEST NUMBER THEY CAN AND WE’RE GOING TO GO FROM THERE. BUT FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME GENERAL NUMBERS. BUT I THINK AS FAR AS OUR TEAM IS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE SEE THOSE NUMBERS THE WEEK BEFORE, WE’RE REALLY NOT GOING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO PLAN. SO I THINK AS THIS GETS ON FURTHER, WE HOPE A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENS. WE HOPE IT GETS A LITTLE SMOOTHER. ALSO HOPE THAT THERE’S MORE STREAMS FLOWING INTO THE RIVER. WE HAVE TWO STREAMS FLOWING INTO THREE AND FOUR AND MAYBE FIVE. WE HAVE MORE VACCINES COMING FROM DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND WE HOPE IT GOES OUT LIKE THIS. BUT WE’LL TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME. I’M SORRY. YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION? REPORTER: YEAH, I WAS WONDERING WHEN THE DATA IS GOING TO BE ARE GETTING VACCINATED? GOVERNOR DEWINE: YEAH, FRANKLY, I DON’T SEE ANY REASON WHY IT’S NOT YET UP. SO I’LL CHECK ON THAT. I’VE LOOKED AT THE PROTOTYPES. THE DATA IS BEING COLLECTED AND EVERY DAY AROUND 2:00, THAT SHOULD BE COMING OUT. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BEN SCHWARTZ AT WCPO IN CINCINNATI. GOVERNOR DEWINE: HEY, BEN. REPORTER: HEY, GOVERNOR. I HAVE A QUESTION HERE FROM WCPO VIEWER. AND I’D LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION TO DR. VANDERHOFF AS WELL IF HE’S AROUND. BUT THIS VIEWER IS WONDERING WHILE WE’RE SEEING THE COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL OUT, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK ON HOW THE ROLLOUTS ABILITY TO TREAT COVID-19 PATIENTS? DR. VANDERHOFF, YOU SAID EARLIER THAT OUR HOSPITALS ARE STILL EXTREMELY BUSY. AND WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, HOW DO YOU SEE BEING VACCINATED, ABILITY TO WORK WITH PATIENTS? DR. VANDERHOFF: WELL THANKS. THAT’S VERY GOOD QUESTION. I THINK IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE HOSPITALS ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEVELS. BUT FIRST, IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL WORK OF VACCINATE OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OUR HOSPITALS VACCINATE THEIR WORKFORCE IN LARGE NUMBERS EVERY YEAR AS FAR AND THEY’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT THROUGHOUT THIS FALL, AGAIN, THIS YEAR. SO AS WE CONCLUDE OUR FLU VACCINATION, THE TIMING OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE COVID-19 VACCINES TO OUR HOSPITALS IS ALMOST PERFECT. I WOULD NOT ANTICIPATE THE WORK OF VACCINATING THE WORKFORCE AND HEALTH CARE TO ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR HOSPITAL’S ABILITY TO DELIVER ON THEIR IMPORTANT MISSION ON CARING FOR THE SICK. BUT IT’S TOO EARLY FOR US TO EXPECT THAT THE VACCINES WHICH HAVE REALLY JUST BEGUN, ARE GOING TO BE DIRECTLY IMPACTING THE HOSPITAL NUMBERS. OF COURSE, WE HOPE THAT OUR STRATEGY OF BEGINNING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS, THE PATIENTS WHO ARE IN LONG-TERM CARE, THE PEOPLE THAT WE’VE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, TODAY, RECEIVING INNOVATION, WILL HAVE A BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON THIS CURVE, ON THIS WAVE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT WE’RE WORRIED ABOUT TODAY. BUT I WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE ON THE MESSAGE THAT I SHARED EARLIER. AND THAT IS IT’S MUCH TOO SOON FOR US TO EXPECT VACCINES TO BE BENDING THAT CURVE. IT’S STILL DEPENDS UPON YOU AND ME TO BE DOING THE GOOD WORK THANKSGIVING, INCLUDING THE VARIOUS ITEMS THAT I RAN THROUGH IN MY EARLIER COMMENTS. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM RANDY FROM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH. GOVERNOR DEWINE: HEY, RANDY. REPORTER: OUR FEDERAL ADVISORY PANEL YESTERDAY PUT OUT THE RECOGNITIONS GUIDANCE TO THE STATES ON WHO SHOULD BE VACCINATED NEXT, INCLUDES ESSENTIAL WORKERS, WHO CAN’T WORK REMOTELY, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE FOOD CHAIN GROCERY STORES, PRISON GUARDS, PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS, POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS, DAYCARE EMPLOYEES, THOSE AGED 75 AND OLDER. HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT AND WHEN WILL YOU FORMIZE WHO’S NEXT IN THE NEXT PHASE OF INNOVATION? — VACCINATION? GOVERNOR DEWINE: I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION IS HELPFUL AND IT IS CONSIDERED BY US. AND IT’S ALSO A LARGE, LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. SO EVEN THOUGH YOU’VE ACCEPTED PERFECTLY EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID, YOU WOULD STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO GOES IN KIND OF IN WHAT ORDER. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. AGAIN, OUR FOCUS, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO REMAIN ON SAVING LIVES AND THE MOST EFFICIENT AND QUICK WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS TO SAVE LIVES, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A SCARCE — AT THE BEGINNING, AT LEAST, THE VACCINE IS A SCARCE RESOURCE. AND WE HAVE TO DEPLOY THAT IN AS STRATEGICALLY A SMART WAY AS WE CAN. — TO SAVE LIVES AND TO SAVE THE MOST LIVES THAT WE CAN. SO THAT’S WHAT TOUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON. WEEKEND WORKING ON THIS. I SPENT SOME TIME THIS MORNING WORKING ON THIS. SO WE’LL TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE THE GUIDANCE AS SOON AS WE CAN, AS SOON AS WE KIND OF TAKEN EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT THE SAVING OF LIVES IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR COMPONENT PART OF THIS. REPORTER: THANK YOU. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ANDY CHOW AT OHIO PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION. REPORTER: HEY, GOVERNOR. I’M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT FINDING A BALANCE BETWEEN CALLING ON PEOPLE TO BE SAFE, TO PRACTICE SAFE HABITS WHILE STILL RESPECTING RELIGIOUS RIGHTS. WITH CHRISTMAS COMING UP, WITH HANUKKAH JUST ENDING, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT YOUR CALL ON REDUCING CONTACT MIGHT INFRINGE ON THEIR RELIGIOUS FWRDS? GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE’VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR AND I THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE FOR MAKING IT CLEAR AGAIN. OUR ORDERS ARE NOT IMPACTING PEOPLE’S RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE, NOT IMPACTING THEIR EXERCISE OF THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN ANY WAY. THE ONLY RESTRICTION, IF YOU CAN CALL IT A RESTRICTION IN REGARD TO RELIGIOUS SERVICES IS WE’VE ASKED PEOPLE IF THEY’RE NOT DELL BRANT, IF THEY DON’T HAVE A SINGING OR SPEAKING PART TO WEAR AND WE JUST ASK THEM TO DO THAT, TO PROTECT EACH OTHER. SO THEY ARE ANY ORDER THAT WE’VE ISSUED, IT’S BEEN EXEMPT FROM THAT AND THAT’S BEEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ALL THE WAY THROUGH. AND WE HAVE NO INTENTION TO CHANGE THAT. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JACKIE AT THE CINCINNATI INQUIRER. REPORTER: I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE VACCINE QUESTION. HOW HAS — OPERATION WARPED SPEED SAYS THEY’RE GOING TO RESERVE SOME OF THE DOSES AND THAT’S WHY THE OUTPATIENT WITH SMALLER THAN ESTIMATED. HOW HAS THAT CHANGED YOUR ESTIMATES TO THE REST OF THE MODERNA AND HOW MUCH NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE THAT MORE VACCINES ARE COMING AND DOES THAT MAKE IT HARDER TO PLAN IT OUT? GOVERNOR DEWINE: NO, SOME DISCREPANCY IS TO BE EXPECTED. IT’S HUGE — MY ATTITUDE ABOUT THINGS GENERALLY IS, YOU KNOW, I CAN’T CHANGE THEM, LET’S DEAL WITH THEM. AND OUR JOB, THE WAY I SEE IT IS TO GET THESE OUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN IN AN EX ME DEESHES MANNER. WE HAVE THE FOUR PHARMACY COMPANIES THAT ARE WORKING. WE HAVE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OHIO AND WE HAVE HOSPITALS. A LOT OF MOVING PARTS JUST IN THE STATE OF OHIO. WE ALSO NOW HAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD THAT THEY WILL BE HELPING TO GET SOME OF THESE VACCINES OUT AS WELL WE HAVE A STEADY STREAM IN REGARD TO THE PFIZER VACCINE WHICH IS GOING RIGHT NOW TO THE CARE SETTING STARTING OFF WITH OUR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY WHERE IS WE HAD THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS. AND THEN MOVING THROUGH THE REST OF THE PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS. WE’LL TAKE THESE NUMBERS AS WE COME AND WE WILL USE WITH A THEY SEND TO US BUT I BELIEVE THERE’S GOING TO BE A STEADY STREAM AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE MORE THAN JUST THE TWO STREAMS. I HOPE THERE WILL BE MANY MORE STREAMS BY THE TIME WE’RE DONE WITH OTHER COMPANIES. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JEFF REDICK IN COLUMBUS. GOVERNOR DEWINE: HEY, JEFF. REPORTER: HI, GOVERNOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU ARE PLANNING TO SINAL BILLS AFTER THIS AT 3:30. OBVIOUSLY, A BUSY TIME AT THE STATE HOUSE. WILL SENATE BILL 175 WITH THE STAND YOUR GROUND GUN RIGHTS LANGUAGE BE PART OF THE LIST THAT YOU SIGNED THIS YEAR? WHY OR WHY NOT? GOVERNOR DEWINE: IT’S NOT ON THE BILLS THAT I’M GOING TO TAKE UP TODAY. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT I WILL BE SIGNING TODAY. I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS BUT NOT TODAY. I’VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR, I THINK , FOR MANY TIMES, GOING BACK MONTHS, THAT I FELT THAT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE TOOK UP OTHER GUN BILLS THAT THEY REALLY SENT THEM. WHERE WE KNOW THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY SAVE LIVES, PROTECT CHILDREN, PROTECT FAMILIES, LEGISLATURE CAN ACT ON THESE. AND THEY UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT DO SO. SO I’LL HAVE MORE TO SAY LATER IN THE WEEK. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KEVIN LANDERS AT WBMS IN COLUMBUS. REPORTER: I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHT TONS PERHAPS EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR OHIOANS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED THEIR 39 WEEKS OF PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT CINCY AND ALSO, DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE WHO WORK IN NURSING HOMES SHOULD BE MANDATED THEY’RE WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR POPULATION? THANK YOU. GOVERNOR DEWINE: YEAH, WE’RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT’S IN THE FAR AS THAT ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT. SO WE’LL KNOW MORE WHEN WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT ENDS UP IN THIS BILL. AS FAR AS PEOPLE BEING MANDATED TO GET THE VACCINE, WE’VE NOT MADE THAT DECISION. WE’VE MADE IN THE DECISION NOT TO DO THAT. I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT ANYBODY WHO WORKS IN A NURSING HOME, WHO IS WORKING WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS WOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER BEING VACCINATED. IT’S A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAVE PEOPLE’S LIVES BY ONE SMALL ACT. I WOULD REALLY ASK YOU TO DO THAT. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SPENCER HICKEY AT HANNAH NEWS SERVICE. REPORTER: THANK YOU. GOVERNOR, WHAT ROLE IS YOUR ADMINISTRATION PLAY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AROUND WHAT TO DO WITH HOUSE BILL 6? AND DO YOU HAVE A POSITION ON REPRESENTATIVE’S MOST RECENT PROPOSAL? GOVERNOR DEWINE: YOU KNOW, THIS IS TO OUTLINE PROD PRINCIPLES AND I’VE DONE THAT. I’VE DONE THAT NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE LEGISLATURE. BUT THE LEGISLATURE IS A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. THEY’RE WORKING THEIR WILL. WE’LL SEE WHAT THEY SEND ME. NOW I’VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT MY PREFERENCE IS A TOTAL REPEAL AND A REPLACE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN AND SAW WHAT WAS — HOW THIS BILL BECAME LAW, IT LOOKED UNSEEMINGLY. AND IT JUST REALLY KIND OF STINKS UP THE WHOLE ROOM. AND SO I THINK WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF STARTING OVER AGAIN. SO I’LL SEE WHAT THEY SEND ME. MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER AND NOW AS GOVERNOR THAT BILL IS THERE AND AND IF IT IMPROVES THE STATUS QUO, I’M GOING TO SIGN IT. AND, SO, EVEN THOUGH I MIGHT NOT GET EVERYTHING THAT I WANT, IF IT IMPROVES THE STATUS QUO. SO THAT WILL BE THE CRISIS THAT I’LL FOLLOW. — CRITERIA THAT I’LL FOLLOW. >> NEXT IS FROM LAURA FROM “THE DAILY NEWS.” REPORTER: GIVEN THE CURRENT NUMBERS AND TREND LINES AND THE EXTENT OF THE HOLIDAY CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT COLLEGE STUDENTS AND K-12 KIDS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOMS AND BACK ON CAMPUS IN JANUAR GOVERNOR DEWINE: THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK AND THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE DECISION — FOR EXAMPLE, THE K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE A DECISION TO PUSH BACK A WEEK EITHER DOING IT BY BEING VIRTUAL OR JUST NOT GOING BACK FOR A WEEK. I THINK THAT’S A SMART MOVE. AGAIN, WE’VE LEFT IT UP ON THE LOCAL SCHOOL. BUT THERE CERTAINLY IS A POSSIBILITY WHEN OVER THE HOLIDAYS THAT PEOPLE DO, IN FACT, GET TOGETHER AND THERE COULD BE SPREAD. AND THEN THAT CHILD COMES BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL SPREAD. NOW WE DON’T THINK THAT WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD EVIDENCE THAT THERE’S NOT A LOT OF SPREAD DIRECTORY IN THE CLASSROOM BUT WE ALSO KNOW AND OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. BRINGS THAT PERIPHERAL TO SCHOOL WHERE WE KNOW WE’VE SEEN SPREAD. SOMETHING I THINK SCHOOLS SHOULD LOOK AT. AND IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE. THAT. BUT MAKING ANOTHER WEEK OF SEPARATION BETWEEN WHEN THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN WITH SOMEBODY OVER THAT LONG PERIOD OF TIME, CHRISTMAS TO NEW YEAR, AND THEN PUSHING IT OUT ANOTHER WEEK CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME TO BE A WISE THING TO DO. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JIM OF THE TOLEDO BLADE. REPORTER: HELLO, GOVERNOR. THANKS AGAIN FOR TAKING OUR QUESTIONS. WE’VE BEEN RECEIVING SOME CALLS FROM SOME BUSINESS WHO IS MISSED OUT ON THE FIRST ROUND OF THE SMAU SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM. DO YOU ANTICIPATE THERE COULD BE ANOTHER ROUND? GOVERNOR DEWINE: THAT’S POSSIBLE. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS STUDY. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR INTERNAL CALL THIS MORNING. WE NEED TO ASK OUR BUDGET PEOPLE, OUR POLICY PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT EXACTLY IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PASS. IT LOOKS LIKE IN THAT BILL IS A ROLLOVER SO THAT WE CAN TAKE OUR CARES ACT DOLLARS AND NOT HAVE TO SPEND IT BY THE 31ST OF DECEMBER BUT CAN ROLL THAT MONEY OVER. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PLUS YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS IN THIS NEW BILL, I THINK THAT’S GOING TO GIVE US A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT ELSE — HOW ELSE WE CAN SPEND AND SO IT’S ON — THAT’S ON THE TABLE. BEEN MADE. FIRST PRIORITY, ALWAYS HAS TO BE TO DO THE TRACING, DO THE CONTACT TRACING, TO DO THE TESTING. AND NOW, TO DO THE VACCINATIONS. THAT HAS TO BE AT OUR TOP OF OUR LIST OF PRIORITIES. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LAURA HANCOCK AT CLEVELAND.COM. REPORTER: HI, GOVERNOR. THREE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER OF OHIO HAVE WRITTEN YOU A LETTER — A LETTER TO YOU LIEUTENANT HUSTED CALLING FOR MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTION AGAINST FIRST ENERGY INCLUDING HIRING A THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATOR TO REVIEW THE COMPANY’S REACHES IN ACTION AND VALIDATING WHETHER THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS HERE IN OHIO. THEY SAID THE FACTS HAVE COME OUT AS A RESULT OF THE HOUSE BILL 6 INVESTIGATION. WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THIS LETTER AND DO YOU PLAN TO PUSH FOR MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTION? GOVERNOR DEWINE: I’VE NOT READ THE LETTER. SO I’LL WAIT UNTIL I’VE HAD THE CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE LETTER. I’VE NOT READ THE LETTER. SO, I WILL CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT LETTER. AND I THINK I’VE MADE MY POSITION PRETTY CLEAR IN REGARD TO THAT BILL. AND THAT BILL SHOULD BE REPEALED. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JESS HARDEN. GOVERNOR DEWINE: HEY, JEFF. REPORTER: HEY, GOVERNOR. TODAY. ACCORDING TO THE TESTING PAGE ON THE O.D. THFMENT WEBSITE, ANTIGEN TESTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POSITIVITY RATE. GIVEN INCREASED USAGE OF THESE RAPID TESTS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, I WAS WONDERING IF THESE — IF THE RESULTS OF THESE AFFECTS THE STATE’S OVERALL POINT THE P.C.R. TEST POSITIVITY RATE DOESN’T REALLY REFLECT THE WHOLE PICTURE? GOVERNOR DEWINE: THAT’S AN EXCELLENT AND WE IT’S SOMETHING TALKED ABOUT. IT’S SOMETHING THAT I’VE POINTED OUT TO OUR TEAM. AND BASICALLY, THE — WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE ONE OR TWO DAYS AS THE ANTIGEN TEST INCREASE, WHAT YOU’LL GENERALLY FIND IS THAT THE ANTIGEN TEST OR LOWER POSITIVITY THAN THE P.C.R. TEST WHICH WOULD MEAN IF YOU COMBINE THE TWO, YOU GET A LOWER NOW, IN THE REPORT I GET EVERY DAY, I HAVE THAT — THEY ARE BROKEN OUT. SO THEY ARE BROKEN OUT ANTIGEN THEY’RE BROKEN OUT P.C.R. TESTS. AND THEN THEY ARE COMBINED. SO IF THAT IS NOT BEING SHOWN ON OUR PAGE, IT SHOULD BE SHOWN THAT WAY. WHAT WE ACTUALLY REPORT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR MAP, FOR EXAMPLE, AS FAR AS OUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SAY OUR POSITIVITY RATE IS, WE HAVE KEPT IT AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT AT THE P.C.R. LEVEL. STATES ARE SPLIT ON THIS. AND THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE ANY PARTICULAR ONE WAY OF DOING IT. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR IS TO GIVE YOU ALL THE NUMBERS. AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN — PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR OWN JUDGMENT. BUT YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. OUR POSITIVITY THAT WE ARE REPORTING IS GENERALLY LOWER. MAYBE ONE POINT, MAYBE TWO POINTS. AND IF YOU PUT IN THE ANTIGEN TEST. AND THE ANTIGEN TESTS DO CONTINUE TO GO UP. SO THEY PLAY BIGGER IN A BIGGER ROLE. AND I WOULD SAY THAT PEOPLE SAY WELL, WHY WOULD P.C.R. BE DIFFERENT THAN THE ANTIGEN TESTS? AND THERE MAY BE REASONS BUT ONE REASON IS IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT POPULATION. YOU’RE SEEING THE ANTIGEN TESTS, FOR EXAMPLE, USED A LOT MORE IN NURSE HOMES AS PART OF OUR PROTOCOL. AND SO YOU’RE SEEING MORE OF MORE OF THAT USED AND SO IT MAY BE A DIFFERENT POPULATION. >> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM WHIO IN DAYTON. REPORTER: THE QUESTION ABOUT PHASE TWO. AND THE METRICS YOU’RE GEICO USE TO DECIDE WHO GETS TO BE PUT IN PHASE TWO. DO YOU START WITH AGE? LIVING SITUATION, MEDICAL HISTORY? IS THERE A POINT SYSTEM? AND SECONDLY, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO NOTIFY PEOPLE? HOW WILL PEOPLE ARE LISTENING OR WATCHING TODAY BE NOTIFIED HEY, IT’S TIME TO GO GET YOUR VACCINATION? GOING TO NOTIFY THEM. OTHER REPORTERS AND NEWS MEDIA. IT WILL CERTAIN I WILL BE ANY SECRET ONCE WE MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. BUT YOU’RE RIGHT. THERE’S A LOT TO BALANCE HERE. AND THE OVERALL GOAL OF SAVING LIVES IS A PARAMOUNT GOAL. AGE IS GOOD INDICATOR OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUSPECTIBILITY. WE KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE A 30-YEAR-OLD WHO DIES. WHO’S 45 DIE. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT ABOVE THE AGE OF 70, THE NUMBERS GO UP RATHER DRAMATICALLY. SO, YOU MENTIONED EACH INDIVIDUAL’S INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. AND IN THEIR OWN MEDICAL CONDITION. THAT’S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO BE THAT PRECISE. WE’VE GOT DIFFERENT GROUPS IF YOU MET A CERTAIN CRITERIA. THEN WE KNOW THAT YOU’LL BE MORE AT RISK. BUT THE OTHER THING, JIM, THAT WE HAVE TOO BALANCE IS WE CAN’T MAKE THE SYSTEM SO COMPLICATED THAT WE DON’T GET THE VACCINES OUT. BECAUSE IT IS A RACE AGAINST TIME. AND ANY TIME THAT YOU’VE GOT VACCINES SITTING AROUND, IT IS A WASTE OF TIME WHEN THAT COULD BE IN SOMEONE’S ARM. AND ANYONE CAN SPREAD IT. SO YOU’RE BALANCING PRECISION OF TRYING TO TARGET THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN’T DO THAT SO PRECISELY THAT YOU SLOW DOWN THE WHOLE PROCESS. AND THAT YOU GET KEEP VACCINE FROM GETTING OUT. AND SO GETTING OUT AT A VERY ROBUST RATE IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS AS WELL. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAD — YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BALANCE AGAIN, THE GOAL OF SAVING LIVES. >> GOVERNOR, NEXT QUESTION IS THE LAST QUESTION FOR TODAY. AND IT BELONGS TO LOUISE GILL OF OHIO LATINO TELEVISION. REPORTER: HELLO, GOVERNOR. GOVERNOR DEWINE: HEY, LOUISE. REPORTER: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS, GOVERNOR. THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE FOR DR. VANDERHOFF. GOVERNOR DEWINE: OK. REPORTER: HELLO, DOCTOR. DR. VANDERHOFF: HELLO. REPORTER: IT’S BEEN KNOWN THE ILLNESS OF COVID AND THEY GOT BETTER AND SOMEHOW THEY DEVELOPED SOME ANTIBODIES IN THEIR SYSTEM. DO THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, THROUGH TRANSFERRED TO OLDER PEOPLE THAT PERHAPS NEED IT THE MOST? DR. VANDERHOFF: YEAH, THAT’S A VERY, VERY GOOD QUESTION AND THE RECOMMENDATION THIS THAT VACCINES SHOULD BE OFFERED TO PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF A HISTORY OF PRIOR SYMPTOMATIC OR ASYMPTOMATIC COVID INFECTION. THE DATA FROM THE TRIALS, ESPECIALLY THE LATTER HALF OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND EFFECTIVE. SO RATHER THAN GUESS ABOUT THE DURATION OR THE IMPACT OF INFECTED, WE’RE RECOMMENDING THAT EVERYONE CONSIDER VACCINATION FOR COVID REGARDLESS OF PRIOR INFECTION. REPORTER: OK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOVERNOR DEWINE: LET ME CLOSE TODAY WITH A MESSAGE OF HOPE. LAST FEW DAYS WITH THE START OF THE VACCINES FOR ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND IN NURSING HOMES SHOWS THAT THERE IS HOPE. TONIGHT, AT LAST SPECIAL LIGHT AS WELL. THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 800 YEARS. THE LARGEST PLANETS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM WILL APPEAR ONE 10TH OF A DEGREE APART AS THEY ORBIT CLOSELY TO EACH OTHER. THE ALIGNMENT OF THESE PLAN NETS PRODUCES A GREAT LIGHT THAT ARE SOMETIMES DESCRIBED AS SIMILAR TO CHRISTMAS STAR OR THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. THE BRIGHT LIGHT THAT LED THE WISE MEN TO THE STABLE INTO THE BABY JESUS. IT’S ALSO SIGNIFICANT THIS IS HAPPENING TODAY, THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR. THE DAY WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT MOVING FORWARD, THE LIGHT OF EACH DAY WOULD GET LONGER. MY DAD, WHO IS AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST ALWAYS LIKE THIS DAY AND ALWAYS CALLED OUT THIS DAY BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT EACH DAY GOING FORWARD, THERE WOULD BE MORE LIGHT. AS WE NEAR THE END OF THIS YEAR 2020, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REALLY A MAGNIFICENT CELESTIAL SIGN OF HOPE AND LIGHT AND WONDER AND OF JOY AND OF WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A GREAT NEW YEAR. WE MUST REMAIN PATIENT. BUT KNOW THAT THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC IS NEARING. THE VACCINE IS HERE. WE WILL, IN FACT, GET THROUGH THIS. COLUMBUS NATIVE WAS THE LEAD SINGER FOR RASCAL FLATTS HE RECORDED A NEW SONG CALLED “CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.” HE’S KINDS OF US TO SEND US A VIDEO GREETING ABOUT IT AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLATE AND PLAY SOME OF THE SONG. ERIC? >> HEY, COLUMBUS, OHIO, THE GREAT STATE OF OHIO. I GOT A BRAND-NEW CHRISTMAS SONG OUT THIS YEAR AND IT’S CALLED “CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.” AND, YOU KNOW WE KIND OF WROTE THE THINGS GOING ON IN 2020 AND JUST HOW CRAZY THIS YEAR HAS BEEN. AND CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS YEAR. NOT JUST WITH COVID, BUT, YOU KNOW, KIDS BEING, DOING ONLINE SO EVERYTHING THAT WE KNEW AS NORMAL IS NOT ANYMORE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO AS BUCKEYES IS TO STAY SAFE, WEAR MASK, TRY TO PUT THE OTHER PEOPLE FIRST, AND BUT CHECK OUT MY CHRISTMAS SONG, “CHRISTMAS WILL DW DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.” EVERYBODY IN THE BUCKEYE STATE, Y’ALL STAY SAFE. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE, HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON. AND, GO BUCKS. ♪ BECAUSE I WILL BE THERE AND YOU CAN’T BE HERE I LOOK FOR THE MAGIC ANYWAY AND I’LL KEEP ALL OUR TRADITIONS JUST THE SAME EVEN THOUGH CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR ♪ BUT I WON’T BE THERE AND YOU WON’T BE HERE OH, CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR OH, CHRISTMAS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR ♪♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG] GOVERNOR DEWINE: WE WANT TO THAT WAS LOVELY. HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND THAT’S OHIO’S GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE WRAPPING UP. AVERAGE BUT STILL, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE NUMBERS ARE STILL MUCH TOO HIGH. ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS, HE DID SHARE IS THAT THANKSGIVING BUMP THAT HE WAS TRYING TO KEEP DOWN, NUMBERS SHOW IT WASN’T NEARLY AS HIGH AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN. SO HE GAVE OHIO THE PROPS FOR TO STAY HOME AND THEY DISTANCE BUT EVEN THE DR., DR. BRUCE VANDERHOFF SAID WE ARE COMING UP ON CHRISTMAS AND ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER CHANCE FOR FAMILIES TO GATHER AND THEY ZESS THAT YOU KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, TRY TO STAY AT HOME AND TRY TO STAY ISOLATED SO WE GET THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS WITH NO MORE INFECTIONS. THE HOSPITALS ARE VERY BUSY WITH COVID-19. THEY DO NOT ADD TO IT AND THE ACTIONS RIGHT NOW WILL SHOW UP IN THE WEEKS AFTER NEW YEAR. SO WE CANNOT LET OURSELF S HAVE ALSO, HE TALKED ABOUT THE TEARS OF WHEN PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR CORONAVIRUS VACCINE THEY WORKED ON THAT OVER THE WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOON WHEN THOSE TWO TIERS, THAT NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND HOPEFULLY GET THAT VACCINE AS THEY CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT THAT ENTIRE LIST. IT’S GOING WHILE. SO GOING TO HAVE TO STAY PATIENT FOR WHEN YOUR NUMBER IS CALLED. WE WILL BE BACK AT 5:00. FOR MORE COVID