'Trying To Put Pandemic In Rearview,' Ohio Governor Says

COLUMBUS, OH — Gov. Mike DeWine wants to put the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, he said Thursday morning.

As of Saturday, Ohio's COVID-19 case rate dipped below 50 cases per 100,000 residents, an important benchmark for health officials indicating spread is slowing, DeWine said. As of Wednesday, that case rate had dipped further to 39.1 cases per 100,000 residents.

"We're doing well and we're coming out of this strong," he said, noting that hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 have fallen in conjunction with the dipping case rate.

However, there are reasons for concern, DeWine said. Ohio's COVID-19 vaccination rates have flagged in the past week, mimicking a trend seen across the nation. On Wednesday, 12,786 Ohioans started the COVID-19 vaccination process, bringing the total of vaccinated Ohioans to 5.4 million (46 percent of the state population).

"We're facing what other states are facing," DeWine said. He argued the Vax-a-Million lottery announcement spurred vaccinations through mid-May and early June, though the effects are now waning.

Vaccination rates are still up in Ohio's rural counties, like Hocking, Wyandot and Crawford, and DeWine credits that to the $1 million Vax-a-Million lottery.

"Ohio continues to move forward into a new phase of the pandemic. Vaccinations are working. That's why cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are down. However, the threat of COVID-19 remains, and we must remain vigilant," DeWine said.

Non-vaccinated Ohioans are still encouraged to wear masks and maintain social distance, DeWine said, because COVID-19 still poses a serious threat to their health.