08/17/2021

COVID-19 & Ohio: Vaccinations Increasing, Local Efforts Encouraged

August 17, 2021

Today, Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D. updated Ohioans about the state of the COVID-19 virus in Ohio.

They noted that 3,235 positive COVID-19 cases were reported today. To put that into context, there have been three days in the last week with more than 3,000 newly reported cases. Prior to the past week, there has not been a single day with over 3,000 newly reported cases since February. While vaccinations across the state continue, for children ages 12 to 17 years old, only 35 percent of them are currently vaccinated.

“The spread of the Delta variant has dramatically accelerated since I last spoke 10 days ago. We are at the high level of cases since last February,” said DeWine. “The best way to make sure that your child can stay in school and not have his or her classes interrupted is for that child to be vaccinated. If that child cannot be vaccinated, then best way to ensure a good school year is for that child to wear a mask in class."

While vaccinations across the state continue, for children ages 12 to 17 years old, only 35 percent of them are currently vaccinated. School officials making decisions about their district's mask policy should refer to the ODH's COVID-19 Health and Prevention Guidance for Ohio K-12 Schools released earlier this summer.

“Delta isn’t just a danger to adults," said Vanderhoff. "While children are less likely than adults to get severely ill from COVID-19, they are not invincible and most certainly can, and do, become ill. And, indeed, our children’s hospitals continue to see tragic cases of previously healthy children struck down by this virus and now requiring intensive medical care. And, of course, when either children or adults become sick from COVID-19, they can spread it to others who may then suffer severe health outcomes, or even death. The bottom line is that COVID-19 is a very bad virus, even for our children. Without question, vaccinations are the best protection one can have from COVID-19.”