Cuyahoga County Board of Health

Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission have sent an adjusted map of congressional districts back to the state’s high court that delivers two-thirds of the seats to their party; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is urging the state's five public employee retirement funds divest themselves of Russian financial holdings; An Ohio judge has blocked preemptive enforcement of a law imposing additional operating requirements on consulting physicians at abortion clinics; and more stories.

A new set of state legislative district maps could be proposed as early as Thursday; the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County has reinstated their original declaration stating "racism is a public health crisis”; a dozen U.S. Air Force officers sue the federal government over COVID-19 vaccine exemptions; and more stories.

As the omicrons surge appears to be waning, Cuyahoga County officials again urged the public to get vaccinated and continue taking precautions to stop the spread of the virus during a press conference Wednesday.

In an email to families Thursday, CMSD CEO Eric Gordon cited a “significant reduction” in reported COVID-19 cases as the reason for his decision to bring kids back into classrooms.

"We remain in crisis mode," said county Health Commissioner Terry Allan. "The unvaccinated continue to drive up this hospital surge.”

With kids heading back to school, officials warn the number of cases will continue to rise if schools don't take precautions to reduce the spread of the virus.

Cuyahoga County’s COVID-19 numbers are improving, although vaccination rates have slowed, according to health officials. The county is averaging about 120 new COVID-19 cases per day, and hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions have remained stagnant, said Jana Rush, the county’s director of epidemiology, in a Friday press conference.

The new shots will be shipped to local health departments, hospitals and pharmacies.

Cuyahoga County’s health board is expected to begin administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21, to emergency medical services (EMS) responders, as well as residents and staff of group homes, health officials said in a press conference Friday.

If the county's infant mortality rate stays the same, it would be the lowest in the past three decades, says the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.