Ohio State Press Conference Summary: 6/24 - 6/30
Governor DeWine stated last week was the first time we've seen an increas in hospitalizations since late April. Numbers show the increase is most apparent in the Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati areas. Although admittance in hospitals is increasing, there is still adequate overall capacity available across the state.
The governor also announced that outdoor visitation at Ohio’s nursing homes will be permitted beginning on July 20th, so long as all safety standards are met.
OhioMeansJobs.com currently has over 140,000 job postings, with almost half paying over $50,000. Approximately 76,000 jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree, while 36,000 require either a bachelor’s degree or associate degree. Approximately 77 percent of the job openings are considered in-demand.
Ohio continued to see an increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 872 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 620 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 6/24 - 6/30
Governor Whitmer signed Senate Bill 690, which appropriates nearly $880 million in federal funding to support various COVID-19 response actions across the state. The supplemental budget includes a number of provisions that assist Michigan in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, help small business weather the difficult economic conditions created by COVID-19, and ensure that workers who put themselves at risk on the frontlines are fairly compensated.
Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-143 closing indoor service at bars throughout most of lower Michigan to protect the progress Michigan has made against COVID-19. Bars statewide can continue to serve outdoors. The governor also signed a package of bills allowing cocktails-to-go at bars and restaurants to help these businesses serve more Michiganders during this time.
The governor released the MI Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap, a comprehensive document to help districts create local plans for in-person learning in the fall. The Roadmap outlines a number of safety protocols for schools to implement in each phase of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, including guidance on PPE, hygiene and cleaning protocols, athletics, and more. The governor also signed Executive Order 2020-142, which provides a structure to support all schools in Michigan as they plan for a return of PreK-12 education in the fall. The order requires school districts to adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan laying out how they will protect students and educators across the various phases of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. In recognition that these protocols will cost money, the Governor also announced that she was allocating $256 million to support the districts in implementing their local plans as part of the bipartisan budget agreement the Senate Majority Leader, the Speaker of the House, and the governor announced yesterday.
The Michigan Strategic Fund approved new economic assistance for small businesses, community revitalization projects and a business expansion that signals a strong beginning for economic recovery in Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced last week. The MEDC has deployed 15 response programs in the past three months to support small businesses, communities, entrepreneurs and workers. These programs have reached all 83 counties in the state, assisting businesses across a range of industries, including food service, retail, healthcare, construction and professional services, among others.
Michigan saw a large increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 320 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 206 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers have fluctuated over the course of the week, with the highest number of cases reported at 389 in one day.
Kentucky State Press Conference Summary: 6/24 - 6/30
Kentucky's leaders have released long-awaited initial guidance for Kentucky schools looking ahead to opening this coming autumn. The interim “Guidance on Safety Expectations and Best Practices for Kentucky Schools” covers K-12 instruction in the commonwealth. These safety expectations were written with input from the Education Continuation Task Force as well as the Governor’s Office, Department for Public Health, Kentucky Department of Education, the Cabinet of Education and Workforce Development and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Throughout this process, stakeholders from all areas of education have been engaged to provide input and expertise.
Gov. Beshear announced several in-person services to address those who have filed unemployment insurance claims. Beginning the week of June 29, in-person services will be offered five days a week in Frankfort. In addition, officials will begin taking the services on the road.
Starting Monday, June 29, the state resumed visitation at assisted living and personal care homes, group activities (10 or fewer) in facilities, communal dining and off-site appointments. Resuming visitation and certain other activities will proceed without taking an eye off the threat that remains with COVID-19. Starting July 15, visitation will resume in nursing homes and in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.
Kentuckians who are uninsured can apply for short-term coverage through Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility. Initial coverage ends two months after the application month, unless the person applies for regular Medicaid or Presumptive Eligibility is extended due to a continued COVID-19 state of emergency. The state is extending Presumptive Eligibility benefits for three months for anyone who already applied and whose coverage was previously set to end June 30.
Kentucky saw another weekly increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 212 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 187 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers still fluctuate with the highest number reported at 308 cases in one day.