Ohio Teachers In Vaccine Line; DeWine Shortens Curfew: Reporters Roundtable

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are trending downward allowing him to shorten the state's current overnight curfew by an hour.
 

The curfew will now be in effect from 11pm until 5am.  The previous curfew had been set from 10pm to 5am.
 

DeWine says he could shorten the curfew further if the downward hospitalization trend continues.

As mentioned, the trajectory of the pandemic has shifted several times over the past year.  Even as Ohio looks to relax its curfew, new more easily transmitted variants of COVID-19 are popping up including in Ohio.
 

The next groups prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Ohio will include those 65 and older and school teachers and staff.  The governor says 500 districts are ready to begin vaccinating their staff next week.  But due to limited doses of vaccine, districts will not be able to fully vaccinate all members of their staff.

Virus research will be the centerpiece of a new "innovation district" announced this week for Cleveland.
 

The district brings together Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth along with Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State in a health-care focused job creation partnership.
 

In politics, Ohio Republican lawmakers seem to be picking up where the last legislative session left off.
 

A new Senate bill seeks to reign in the governor's ability issue health orders and would create a committee to oversee and/or strike down orders issued by the governor.
 

The committee would have the power to strike down orders from the Ohio Department of Health as well.
           
Karen, this week the Clermont County Republican Party Central Committee passed a resolution asking the state Republican Party  not to endorse a candidate in the 2022 primary.

A major political announcement this week from Ohio Senator Rob Portman.  He announced that he will not seek re-election in 2022.  Portman cited the gridlock in Washington, DC and the extreme polarization between the parties as reasons for choosing not to run again.

Portman’s announcement also set off a scramble as a number of high profile people in Ohio were announced possible plans to seek the seat being vacated by Portman.

Two high-profile Republicans, however, have said they will not seek Portman’s seat:  Congressman Jim Jordan and Ohio Lieutenant Governor John Husted.

Lisa Ryan, Health Reporter, Ideastream
Jenny Hamel, Education Reporter, Ideastream
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV