Complete Story
08/19/2020
COVID-19 Cases in Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky Begin to Decline
Ohio State Updates: 8/12 - 8/18
Governor DeWine announced that an order from the Ohio Department of Health will be issued to outline how sports, both contact and non-contact, may move forward in Ohio. The order will apply to all organized sports in the state and will include guidelines for spectators. The decision for high school fall sports to be postponed to the springtime will be left to the school districts.
Governor DeWine released the final Minority Health Strike Force report and the state's executive response. Governor DeWine issued Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity. The action plan outlines efforts to reinforce the DeWine Administration's commitment to advancing health equity and establishing Ohio as a model for justice, equity, opportunity, and resilience.
The governor continued a travel advisory for all individuals coming into Ohio from states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15% or higher. Those traveling from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel: Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, and Nevada. The self-quarantine recommendation applies to those who live in Ohio and to people who are traveling into Ohio from any of these states.
Ohio's positivity rate, an indicator of the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, was 4.5% over the last 7 days (down from 5.1%). Visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for tips on how to effectively quarantine.
OhioMeansJobs.com currently has about 168,000 job postings, with 90,000 (54%) paying between $30,000 - $79,000. Approximately 104,000 jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree, while 47,000 require either a bachelors or associate degree.
Ohio recorded a third consecutive weekly decrease in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 948 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,134 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
Michigan State Updates: 8/12 - 8/18
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that she will allocate nearly $65 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to Michigan school districts, higher education institutions, and other education-related entities that have been most significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes schools in Michigan’s economically disadvantaged districts, and will help address the digital divide that has served as a barrier to remote learning for students and educators across the state. The funding comes from the Governor’s Education Emergency Relief Fund (GEER).
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on Michigan’s students, educators, and support staff, especially those in low-income communities. GEER funds are meant for districts that are determined to be most significantly impacted by COVID-19. To ensure these districts are targeted, the framework distributes $60 million to school districts based on the number of students in high-need student groups. Districts will receive funding based on their numbers of economically disadvantaged students, special education students, and English language learners. To be eligible for funding, the school district’s concentration of economically disadvantaged pupils, compared to total district enrollment, must exceed 50%.
Recipient districts will be required to use GEER funds for any of the following goals:
- Connectivity: Devices, internet access, access to remote services, or other similar purposes.
- Student Mental Health: Funding would enhance access to remote and in-person student mental health services.
- Addressing Learning Loss: Funding could be used by districts to offer supplementary content and intervention services to mitigate the impacts of learning loss.
- Out-of-School-Time Learning: Funds could be used to support out-of-school-time learning. These expenditures would ensure students have safe spaces to participate in remote education.
- Remote Learning Materials and Training (digital and non-digital): Funds could address both digital and non-digital content where remote learning continues as an instructional delivery model.
- Teacher Training and Curriculum: Funding could be used to provide additional professional development and curriculum modifications that allow districts to effectively facilitate distance learning while expanding their knowledge of the science of teaching.
- Other health, safety, and wellness needs identified, required, or recommended in the MI Return to School Roadmap.
$5.4 million will be distributed to other education related entities, and will be distributed for statewide mental health services, public television learning resources, implementation of teacher professional learning practices, and the Early On program to help reach more infants and toddlers through remote early intervention.
Four million free masks are being provided to Michigan residents who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 through a partnership involving the state, Ford Motor Company and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan campaign, and Ford’s involvement makes MI Mask Aid a public-private partnership that can provide even more free masks. Anyone interested in receiving a free mask can find a distribution location by calling the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or looking up their local Community Action Agency online.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) submitted an application to the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for funding that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits. The UIA estimates that under the program, about 910,000 Michiganders would receive at least $300 per week in supplemental benefits. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation. Eligible claimants will be paid benefits retroactive to August 1. It is unclear at this time how long funding for the program will last.
Michigan saw a slight increase in new COVID-19 cases with an average of 701 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 672 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate, but the data shows that cases are trending toward decline at the end of the week.
Kentucky State Updates: 8/12 - 8/18
Governor Beshear offered an update on his administration’s travel advisory, which recommends a 14-day self-quarantine for Kentuckians who travel to states and U.S. territories that are reporting a positive coronavirus testing rate equal to or greater than 15%. The current areas meeting this threshold include , Florida, Idaho, Mississippi and Nevada. For an updated list of areas meeting that threshold, click here.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, demonstrated how the commonwealth’s recent actions against COVID-19, including the statewide face coverings mandate, have flattened our curve of cases in comparison with other Southern states, like Georgia. “When some of these states barreled forward, in Kentucky, we had a very measured and phased approach,” said Dr. Stack. “I think what we see is that the mask mandate is what impacted and hopefully flattened our curve.” Dr. Stack also discussed how starting the K-12 school year virtually will give districts more time to prepare for a safe reopening later in the fall, as public health officials continue to learn more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms, cafeterias, school buses and other spaces.
Secretary of State Adams and Governor Beshear announced an agreement that allows Kentuckians to exercise their right to vote in the November General Election while protecting their health during the ongoing pandemic. Secretary Adams sent Gov. Beshear a formal letter of recommendation, and the Governor issued an Executive Order that outlines procedures for the state’s General Election, to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Gov. Beshear said, “This plan provides more time and options to vote in this General Election than ever before.” Secretary Adams said, “We kept the best of what worked in the June primary, especially giving voters options to safely cast their votes, and we built on that record with improvements – more in-person voting locations and faster election results.”
Gov. Beshear announced Monday that Kentucky’s Department for Public Health is partnering with the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare to begin free drive-up COVID-19 testing for the community. Beginning August 24, community testing will be available in the new parking lot on College Way near the UK motor pool on the far southern edge of campus as well as on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, which UK operates and manages for the state. The hospital is located off of Newtown Pike near the Interstate Highway 64/75 exchange. Eastern State is located at UK’s Coldstream Research Campus. All testing will be available by scheduling an appointment. To receive a free COVID-19 test, an individual can register at: lexington.wildhealth.com. Testing will be seven days a week, from 8 am to 4 pm. More information on testing opportunities at more than 200 sites throughout the commonwealth can be found here.
New COVID-19 cases increased in Kentucky this week, with an average of 644 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 514 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate, but the data shows that cases are trending toward decline at the end of the week.
