Week in Review 11-26-2021

CORONAVIRUS

The state is experiencing another surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations as Ohioans prepare to gather for Thanksgiving for this week, Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said Tuesday. “We are heading into the winter with very high levels of disease transmission, and over the last couple of weeks, a definite upturn in the number of cases and the number of hospitalizations. Essentially, we are heading into the winter already in a surge,” Vanderhoff told reporters during a virtual press conference. “Think about where we are in terms of the total number of positive cases,” he continued. “The threshold per 100,000 is 100 cases per 100,000, and we are many times above that, both at a state level and in each and every individual county level. COVID is everywhere. It is still demonstrating an ability to spread very quickly, most especially among people who aren’t protected by the vaccine.” The statewide transmission rate for the most recent reporting period (pulled Nov. 18) is 496.3 cases per 100,000 population, according to ODH. That is up from 410.5 a week before (Nov. 11), and 354.3 two weeks before (Nov. 4). 

In the most recent reporting period, there are 11 counties with more than 800 cases per 100,000 population including Sandusky (804.9), Fayette (830.9), Henry (877.6), Fulton (904.4), Seneca (915.2), Ashtabula (929.6), Putnam (942.1), Allen (976.1), Defiance (976.7), Van Wert (1,092.8) and Williams (1,092.9).

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided approvals necessary Friday for any U.S. adult to be eligible for a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ohio Department of Health said those who originally received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are eligible for a single booster dose two months following their original dose; those who received Moderna or Pfizer/Comirnaty will be eligible six months after receiving their second dose, which completed the original vaccine series. Fully vaccinated adults can choose any of the three authorized COVID-19 vaccines for their booster dose.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

With work on a congressional redistricting bill wrapped up this week well ahead of the Nov. 30 constitutional deadline, the House and Senate both cleared the calendar of sessions scheduled near that date. Sessions scheduled for both chambers Monday, Nov. 29, Tuesday, Nov. 30 and Wednesday, Dec. 1 were cancelled, and the House likewise cancelled a Thursday, Dec. 2 session. Both chambers are next scheduled to meet Wednesday, Dec. 8.