University Hospitals

Officials did not say how long those placed on leave would have to change their minds and get the shot before being officially fired.

Thursday is the deadline for many health care workers to get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine shot or face the possibility of termination.

Cleveland Clinic plans to comply with the national health care employee COVID-19 vaccination mandate after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the requirement Thursday, officials said.

The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected newly drawn district maps that retained Republican supermajorities in both state legislative chambers; The Cleveland Clinic is among hospital systems set to get federal help; Columbus teachers demand 2-week switch to remote learning; and more stories.

Akron will distribute around 3,200 free, at-home COVID tests this Saturday at four locations; three parents in Hudson have filed a lawsuit challenging the school district's quarantine and mask-wearing rules; University Hospitals has closed its freestanding Madison Health Center emergency room in Lake County; and more stories.

After two days of high demand and long lines, the mass drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Cleveland will now be appointment-only.

Northeast Ohio hospitals are also seeing more COVID-19 patients than ever before, partially due to the highly contagious omicron variant.

The Ohio National Guard members and the Ohio Department of Health told early birds who went to the drive-thru free COVID-19 testing site in University Circle Tuesday morning to come back after 9:30 a.m.

A religious group based in Holmes County has announced that a violent gang in Haiti has released three more hostages; two Northeast Ohio hospital systems are restricting visitations as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise; a Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation to attract and retain Ohio college students through a series of grants, scholarships and tax breaks; and more stories.

Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth will begin adjusting the scheduling of non-urgent surgeries as all three hospitals are experiencing a sharp influx of COVID-19 patients, according to a joint statement issued by the hospital systems Friday. The change will free up resources for patients experiencing an emergency or life-threatening illness and help the hospitals manage staffing demands, said Dr. Robert Wyllie, chief of medical operations at Cleveland Clinic.