Weekly public health update: March 16, 2021

The following message was shared with the 51�� community on March 16, 2021.

Dear OHIO community members,

This week 51�� is recognizing one year of the COVID-19 pandemic by highlighting how our University community has met the challenge. A new website, OHIO One Year Later, honors the sacrifices our students, faculty, and staff have made, and invites everyone to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #OHIO1YearLater. All week long the University will commemorate this pivotal time in our history not only with remembrances, but also with an eye toward the future.

Each day it becomes easier to visualize a future beyond the pandemic: as more people are vaccinated against COVID-19 and as case rates decline, we will gradually begin to return to normal. I say “begin” because we can’t just flip a switch to normal. With increased opportunities to gather this spring, let’s all resist the temptation to drop public health precautions. We are a community that creates solutions, not flare-ups that make the pandemic drag on.

Hopeful metrics

Each week the governor will report on Ohio’s progress toward his target of fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 people: the point at which he will lift all public health orders. We can keep this target in mind as we do the things that will get us there most quickly: continue to wear masks, maintain physical distance with those from outside our household, and opt to get the vaccine when we can.

You can track this metric on , which are updated each Thursday and include a list by county. Let’s do everything we can to ensure our OHIO counties contribute to a downward trend.

More Ohioans eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Gov. DeWine announced this morning that beginning Friday, 1.6 million more Ohioans will become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine through . He described it as a “moral imperative” to move as quickly as possible to vaccinate all Ohioans who wish to be vaccinated.

On March 19, Phase 1E will extend eligibility to Ohioans with the following medical conditions: cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, and obesity. Also on Friday, Phase 2C will make all Ohioans age 40 and older eligible to receive a vaccine; and on March 29, Phase 2D will make all Ohioans age 16 and older eligible to receive a vaccine. It's important to note that the Pfizer vaccine is the only one currently approved for those under age 18.

Vaccination rates continue to increase locally and across the country. Approximately 10 percent of Americans are now fully vaccinated, with just under 20 percent having received a first dose. Just over 11 percent of Ohioans are fully vaccinated, with just under 20 percent having received a first dose. The state’s allows you to check your county’s progress.

I have enjoyed seeing so many of your social media posts about receiving the vaccine, and the messages of relief and hope that accompany them. Please also register your vaccination so that we can continue to track our progress toward herd immunity on our campuses. Knowing what proportion of our University community is fully vaccinated will help with decisions about resuming normal operations.

Spring gatherings can have unintended consequences

Not every university has succeeded as well as OHIO at containing the virus. Over the weekend, Duke University issued a stay-in-place order to nearly 16,000 on- and off-campus students through March 21, after a sharp rise in cases linked to unsanctioned fraternity recruitment events that took place off campus. Some students there are furious with their reckless classmates for impacting everyone’s spring semester. I feel for those students and for the administrators making these tough decisions – we could easily experience the same situation here if we don’t remain vigilant.

I thank you all for contributing to our success so far, and I ask for your continued commitment to keeping our campuses safe.

Yesterday, President Nellis and Athens Mayor Steve Patterson issued a clear reminder about off-campus gatherings. The City of Athens will not permit gatherings of 10 or more individuals, in accordance with state health orders. Hosting a gathering of 10 or more individuals could lead to criminal consequences and could result in suspension or dismissal from 51��.

Stay on pace

It’s getting warm out and it feels like the world is coming back to life in so many ways. I hope you have time to trade your room and computer screen for fresh air and sunlight. Nevertheless, be cautious about porch parties and celebrations, whether those gatherings are planned or impromptu. I understand the temptation to drop everything and bolt toward the end in sight. But this pandemic has never been a short-distance race. If we sprint now, we risk losing our momentum in the final miles of this marathon. Instead, let’s help each other stay on pace so that when that finish line comes, we will all be there to cross it together.

Dr. Gillian Ice
Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations

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