It has been one year since the COVID-19 pandemic entered Ohio. On March 3, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced the closures of events related to the 2020 Arnold Sports Festival to prevent the spread of the virus. On March 9, 2020, a state of emergency was declared as the first three confirmed cases were announced. In the ensuing weeks, schools and businesses were closed, travel was halted, and life as we knew it irrevocably changed. By the end of the year, more than 690,000 cases and 8,855 deaths had been documented.
A year later, Ohioans are hopeful that we're at the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Vaccine distribution is accelerating, confirmed cases and positivity rates are declining, schools are returning to in-person classes, and certain restrictions are being lifted.
Mike DeWine
70th Governor of Ohio
Tom Beres
Former Senior Political Correspondent, WKYC
Dan Moulthrop
CEO, The City Club of Cleveland
