The COVID-19 outbreak is continuing to change everyday life for millions of Americans. Leaders across the county, including the Tri-State area, are providing daily updates on confirmed cases, deaths and measures taking to curb the spread of the virus. Here, you can get the latest information on the coronavirus in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as well as resources to be prepared and keep your family safe.LATEST CASE NUMBERS: Ohio, 675,044, 8,571 deaths | Kentucky, 258,517, 2,563 deaths | Indiana, 496,306, 7,539 deathsEducational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resourcesCORONAVIRUS IN OHIOThe state of Ohio has laid out its latest vaccination plans, saying adults over the age of 65 and school staff will be among the next to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.Speaking during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, the governor detailed who will be able to receive the critical vaccine next.”The next broad category of people eligible to be vaccinated will be older Ohioans age 65,” the governor said. “This chart shows that these Ohioans make up just under 87% of COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. We are still working to determine the logistics of how the vaccines will be distributed.” In addition to older adults, the state will also begin offering vaccines to younger people with severe inherited or developmental disorders that make them particularly vulnerable — like Sickle Cell or Down Syndrome.Although an exact timeline has not been laid out, the governor said he hopes to get the next group vaccinated as soon as new shipments arrive.Additionally, the governor said the vaccine will also be made available to schools in hopes of getting children back in the classroom.”Our kids are our future. It is our priority to get all of Ohio’s children in grades K-12 back in the classroom for in-person learning,” the governor said. “We will make the vaccine available to the schools to accomplish the goal of getting kids back to class.”The state will offer vaccines to all schools that want to go back, or to remain, in person. All staff members in the schools — teachers, bus drivers, etc. — would have the ability to get a vaccine.Although a timeline is not definitive, the governor said the goal is to start this phase around the middle of January, and have children back in the classroom by March.“Everyone in Ohio who wants this vaccine will – at some point – be able to get it,” the governor said. “It just can’t all happen now.”Right now, the vaccine is being provided to a limited number of Ohioans. Included in the first phase includes:Health care providers and personnel routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patientsResidents and staff at nursing facilitiesResidents and staff at assisted living facilitiesResidents and staff at Ohio’s veterans homesPatients and staff at psychiatric hospitalsPeople with intellectual disabilities and those who live with mental illness who live in group homes and their staffEMS respondersCORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKYKentucky Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update at a news conference on Monday about the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.So far, a total of 26,336 vaccine doses have been administered in Kentucky. There have been 17,752 doses administered to hospitals, 2,788 doses to local health departments, 3,596 administered to Walgreens and 2,200 doses to CVS.”This will ramp up a lot more after the holidays,” Beshear said. “We need to make sure we are getting (the vaccines) out there as quickly as possible.”Dr. Steven Stack, with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, laid out phase 1a and phase 1b regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.There’s two vaccines recently approved for use: The Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for those 16 and older, and the Moderna vaccine, which is authorized for those 18 and older.There are roughly 250 million Americans who are 18 years and older. According to Stack, there will be potentially enough doses of the two vaccines to immunize around 50 million Americans by March 1. Therefore, around 1 in 7 people in the country will have access to the vaccine between now and March.”We have to set priorities, and we have to set priorities in way that give the greatest benefit and protection for individuals in society,” Stack said.Phase 1a in Kentucky includes long-term care facility residents and staff, assisted living facility residents and staff and health care personnel. Stack said it will take a few weeks to get the system in place and to get enough vaccines to reach everyone.According to Stack, 2/3 of all of Kentucky’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing home residents, which is why the state has decided to prioritize getting vaccines to them to protect them because they are at such a great risk.Phase 1b in Kentucky will include individuals 70 years and older, first responders and K-12 personnel. The governor said phase 1b will begin around Feb. 1, plus or minus a week.”We hope we have enough vaccine out and distributed where we might be able to get (phase 1b) started that last week of January,” Beshear said.Kentucky health officials are anticipating that it will take most of February to get through phase 1b.Stack is asking all Kentuckians to be patient with the vaccine distribution as deploying them can be “incredibly complicated.””Never in human history have new vaccine been created in less than 12 months to bring an end to a global pandemic,” Stack said, but added Kentucky is working to get the vaccines out as quickly as possible.Stack said if Kentucky is fortunate and vaccine distribution in phase 1a and 1b goes smoothly, the state may have additional vaccines in the February/March timeframe.”If we’re fortunate, by the end of the summer, perhaps as many as half of the state who are interested and willing to get the vaccine will have been able to be immunized by the time we enter the middle or end of the summer,” Stack said.According to Stack, the people who remained following the two phases will be those in the lower-risk categories.”It’s our goal to make sure everyone who wants to be vaccinated has access to it,” Stack said.CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANAIndiana health officials reported 2,494 new coronavirus infections and 43 additional deaths Monday as administration of a vaccine began for nearly 1,000 long-term care facilities across the state.The newly confirmed deaths, which occurred over several days, raised Indiana’s toll to 7,886, including both confirmed and presumed infections, the Indiana State Department of Health said in its daily update.Although less than 1% of the state’s population, long-term care residents account for 50% of the state’s coronavirus deaths.CVS Health began vaccinating residents and staff at Indiana nursing homes and assisted living facilities for the coronavirus on Monday, the company said in a news release.CVS Pharmacy teams will make three visits to each facility to ensure residents and staff receive their initial shot and a booster shot, officials said. The vaccination effort is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete.Indiana’s front-line health care workers began receiving the state’s first shots of Pfizer’s vaccine against COVID-19 earlier this month.The state’s health commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, said people must continue to observe precautions as it will be months before the vaccines are widely available for the general public.The Health Department also reported that 2,866 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday at Indiana’s hospitals – a 17% decrease from pandemic-high hospitalization rates a month ago.Nearly 600 new cases of COVID-19 in Indiana schools were additionally reported, according to the agency’s weekly school statistics update. As of Monday, 1,886 schools have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. An additional 175 schools have not reported any cases, and 307 schools have yet to report their data to the state.Although schools were closed last week for winter recess, state health officials said they’re still asking administrators to report virus exposures from school-sponsored activities that occur during the break.The number of Indiana residents known to have had the coronavirus is now up to 496,306.To date, 2,605,669 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 2,600,211 on Sunday, the department said. A total of 5,553,545 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26.Symptoms:According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.Emergency warning signs include:Difficulty breathing or shortness of breathPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusion or inability to arouseBluish lips or face*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.This chart from Prospect Pediatrics compares COVID-19 symptoms to the cold and flu:Resources: – Ohio coronavirus hotline: 833-427-5634- Kentucky coronavirus hotline: (800) 722-5725- Indiana general questions can be directed to the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 (317-233-1325 after hours) or e-mail [email protected] for Disease Control and Prevention websiteWhat to do if you think you have it:Officials have urged people to be conscious not to overwhelm the health care system. This graphic will help you decide when it is time to see a physician. Helpful tips and guides: → Here’s what you should do if you already have the coronavirus → Dealing with stress, anxiety during coronavirus outbreak→ These viral social media coronavirus posts are FALSE→ How long should you wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus?→ Guidance for self isolation and home quarantine→ How to clean your car for coronavirus→ A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads→ This map tracks the coronavirus in real time→ How to work from home without losing your sanity
The COVID-19 outbreak is continuing to change everyday life for millions of Americans. Leaders across the county, including the Tri-State area, are providing daily updates on confirmed cases, deaths and measures taking to curb the spread of the virus.
Here, you can get the latest information on the coronavirus in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana as well as resources to be prepared and keep your family safe.
LATEST CASE NUMBERS: Ohio, 675,044, 8,571 deaths | Kentucky, 258,517, 2,563 deaths | Indiana, 496,306, 7,539 deaths
Educational resources: CLICK HERE to access online learning resources
CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO
The state of Ohio has laid out its latest vaccination plans, saying adults over the age of 65 and school staff will be among the next to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, the governor detailed who will be able to receive the critical vaccine next.
“The next broad category of people eligible to be vaccinated will be older Ohioans age 65,” the governor said. “This chart shows that these Ohioans make up just under 87% of COVID-19 deaths in Ohio. We are still working to determine the logistics of how the vaccines will be distributed.”
In addition to older adults, the state will also begin offering vaccines to younger people with severe inherited or developmental disorders that make them particularly vulnerable — like Sickle Cell or Down Syndrome.
Although an exact timeline has not been laid out, the governor said he hopes to get the next group vaccinated as soon as new shipments arrive.
Additionally, the governor said the vaccine will also be made available to schools in hopes of getting children back in the classroom.
“Our kids are our future. It is our priority to get all of Ohio’s children in grades K-12 back in the classroom for in-person learning,” the governor said. “We will make the vaccine available to the schools to accomplish the goal of getting kids back to class.”
The state will offer vaccines to all schools that want to go back, or to remain, in person. All staff members in the schools — teachers, bus drivers, etc. — would have the ability to get a vaccine.
Although a timeline is not definitive, the governor said the goal is to start this phase around the middle of January, and have children back in the classroom by March.
“Everyone in Ohio who wants this vaccine will – at some point – be able to get it,” the governor said. “It just can’t all happen now.”
Right now, the vaccine is being provided to a limited number of Ohioans. Included in the first phase includes:
- Health care providers and personnel routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients
- Residents and staff at nursing facilities
- Residents and staff at assisted living facilities
- Residents and staff at Ohio’s veterans homes
- Patients and staff at psychiatric hospitals
- People with intellectual disabilities and those who live with mental illness who live in group homes and their staff
- EMS responders
CORONAVIRUS IN KENTUCKY
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update at a news conference on Monday about the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
So far, a total of 26,336 vaccine doses have been administered in Kentucky. There have been 17,752 doses administered to hospitals, 2,788 doses to local health departments, 3,596 administered to Walgreens and 2,200 doses to CVS.
“This will ramp up a lot more after the holidays,” Beshear said. “We need to make sure we are getting (the vaccines) out there as quickly as possible.”
Dr. Steven Stack, with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, laid out phase 1a and phase 1b regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.
There’s two vaccines recently approved for use: The Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for those 16 and older, and the Moderna vaccine, which is authorized for those 18 and older.
There are roughly 250 million Americans who are 18 years and older. According to Stack, there will be potentially enough doses of the two vaccines to immunize around 50 million Americans by March 1. Therefore, around 1 in 7 people in the country will have access to the vaccine between now and March.
“We have to set priorities, and we have to set priorities in way that give the greatest benefit and protection for individuals in society,” Stack said.
Phase 1a in Kentucky includes long-term care facility residents and staff, assisted living facility residents and staff and health care personnel. Stack said it will take a few weeks to get the system in place and to get enough vaccines to reach everyone.
According to Stack, 2/3 of all of Kentucky’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing home residents, which is why the state has decided to prioritize getting vaccines to them to protect them because they are at such a great risk.
Phase 1b in Kentucky will include individuals 70 years and older, first responders and K-12 personnel. The governor said phase 1b will begin around Feb. 1, plus or minus a week.
“We hope we have enough vaccine out and distributed where we might be able to get (phase 1b) started that last week of January,” Beshear said.
Kentucky health officials are anticipating that it will take most of February to get through phase 1b.
Stack is asking all Kentuckians to be patient with the vaccine distribution as deploying them can be “incredibly complicated.”
“Never in human history have new vaccine been created in less than 12 months to bring an end to a global pandemic,” Stack said, but added Kentucky is working to get the vaccines out as quickly as possible.
Stack said if Kentucky is fortunate and vaccine distribution in phase 1a and 1b goes smoothly, the state may have additional vaccines in the February/March timeframe.
“If we’re fortunate, by the end of the summer, perhaps as many as half of the state who are interested and willing to get the vaccine will have been able to be immunized by the time we enter the middle or end of the summer,” Stack said.
According to Stack, the people who remained following the two phases will be those in the lower-risk categories.
“It’s our goal to make sure everyone who wants to be vaccinated has access to it,” Stack said.
CORONAVIRUS IN INDIANA
Indiana health officials reported 2,494 new coronavirus infections and 43 additional deaths Monday as administration of a vaccine began for nearly 1,000 long-term care facilities across the state.
The newly confirmed deaths, which occurred over several days, raised Indiana’s toll to 7,886, including both confirmed and presumed infections, the Indiana State Department of Health said in its daily update.
Although less than 1% of the state’s population, long-term care residents account for 50% of the state’s coronavirus deaths.
CVS Health began vaccinating residents and staff at Indiana nursing homes and assisted living facilities for the coronavirus on Monday, the company said in a news release.
CVS Pharmacy teams will make three visits to each facility to ensure residents and staff receive their initial shot and a booster shot, officials said. The vaccination effort is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete.
Indiana’s front-line health care workers began receiving the state’s first shots of Pfizer’s vaccine against COVID-19 earlier this month.
The state’s health commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box, said people must continue to observe precautions as it will be months before the vaccines are widely available for the general public.
The Health Department also reported that 2,866 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday at Indiana’s hospitals – a 17% decrease from pandemic-high hospitalization rates a month ago.
Nearly 600 new cases of COVID-19 in Indiana schools were additionally reported, according to the agency’s weekly school statistics update. As of Monday, 1,886 schools have had at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. An additional 175 schools have not reported any cases, and 307 schools have yet to report their data to the state.
Although schools were closed last week for winter recess, state health officials said they’re still asking administrators to report virus exposures from school-sponsored activities that occur during the break.
The number of Indiana residents known to have had the coronavirus is now up to 496,306.
To date, 2,605,669 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 2,600,211 on Sunday, the department said. A total of 5,553,545 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26.
Symptoms:
According to the CDC, the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Emergency warning signs include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
This chart from Prospect Pediatrics compares COVID-19 symptoms to the cold and flu:
Resources:
– Ohio coronavirus hotline: 833-427-5634
– Kentucky coronavirus hotline: (800) 722-5725
– Indiana general questions can be directed to the ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 (317-233-1325 after hours) or e-mail [email protected].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
What to do if you think you have it:
Officials have urged people to be conscious not to overwhelm the health care system. This graphic will help you decide when it is time to see a physician.
Helpful tips and guides:
→ Here’s what you should do if you already have the coronavirus
→ Dealing with stress, anxiety during coronavirus outbreak
→ These viral social media coronavirus posts are FALSE
→ How long should you wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus?
→ Guidance for self isolation and home quarantine
→ How to clean your car for coronavirus
→ A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads
