Loveland, Ohio – The tracking system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now moved Clermont and Warren Counties to the highest level of warning for the transmission of COVID 19.
Hamilton and Butler Counties remain in the “Substantial” range.
“The Delta variant has altered the game plan for COVID-19,” Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman told Loveland Magazine last week. “We know masking works and is yet another layer, in addition to vaccination, to protect all of us from another surge of the virus.”
Vaccination remains the best way to avoid COVID-19 infection.“The vaccines are safe, effective and readily available,” according to Kesterman. “This is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccine, please talk to a trusted health professional for the best information.”
Each citizen in Loveland makes up an important piece of the community, but in saying that it’s up to the citizen as to what they do with their role as an important piece of that community. This is what makes up a community’s “D.N.A.”
Over the past three years, Loveland Magazine has been in search of community members that truly play an important role in Loveland’s D.N.A.
Cassie Mattia
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – One of the best Loveland High School Track and Field athletes of all time achieved a student athlete’s ultimate dream…a ticket to compete collegiately!
Recently graduated, Miya Brines will be training as a Heptathlete at the University of Iowa proving to her teammates, coaches, and fans something they knew all along; she has a bright future filled with more Track and Field milestones ahead of her. There’s no denying that Brines will go down in Tiger history making her a part of “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A!”
Fellow track star Mikayla Loomis joined the interview with Miya. Loomis will enter her Senior year at Loveland High School.
Brines grew up in Loveland and began her love for Track and Field in Junior High School. Both her parents, Chad and Lisa, and coaches immediately saw that Brines was going to excel in Track and Field as her ability was already above and beyond athletes competing against her. As Brines continued to dedicate herself to fine-tuning her god-given ability, LHS’s Track and Field coaches knew they were about to encounter one special individual as she entered into her Freshman year as a Tiger.
The LHS coaches and Brines parents couldn’t have been more right as in 2018 Brines achieved 1st Team All-ECC (Eastern Cincinnati Conference) in the 4×100 meter relay. As Brines became more experienced and dove even deeper into training, she began to hit goals that she would’ve never dreamed of achieving! In 2019, Brines was awarded 1st Team All-ECC in the long jump, made it to the State Meet in the 100-meter hurdles breaking the school record that was previously held in 2016 with a time of 14.70 seconds. Brines coaches and teammates were not only impressed but were also inspired as Brines’ ability to be a team leader went beyond anyone’s expectations causing her other teammates to thrive in their own Track and Field events.
After the interview Miya was given a hurdle gate-board with a brass plaque commemorating her school records in the 100 Meter High Hurdles, Long Jump, and High Jump.
Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 Brines qualified for Indoor Track and Field Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump, and the 4×200 meter relay. Unfortunately, Nationals ended up being canceled leaving Brines frustrated but motivated to achieve even more her Senior year at LHS.
This year Brines made her mark in Tiger history! She not only broke her own record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.39 seconds but also broke the high jump school record that was previously held in 2016 with a jump of 5 feet 6.5 inches. Her successful Senior season led her to take the top spot in the ECC in 5 categories; the 100-meter dash (12.32 seconds), the 200-meter dash (25.27 seconds), the 100-meter hurdles (14.39 seconds), the high jump (5’06.50), and the long jump (17’10.05). Brines also achieved a spot on Ohio MileSplit for Division 1 ranking 14th in the 100-meter dash, 8th in the 200-meter dash, 3rd in the 100-meter hurdles, 2nd in the high jump, and 6th in the long jump.
With all of Brines unbelievable achievements, leadership skills (even while having to sit out the rest of her Senior season due to a grade 3 stress injury/reaction in her tibia and fibula), as well as her ability to overcome the most challenging hurdles, there’s no doubt that Brines has claimed her spot as a part of Loveland’s D.N.A!
— Loveland Girls Track (@TrackLoveland) June 1, 2019
After writing about Miya multiple times over the past few years and receiving a very touching email from her father Chad I just knew that we had to do a special on-camera interview featuring Miya, her coaches, and one of her closest teammates, Mikayla Loomis.
So without much further ado here is another rendition of “What’s In Loveland’s D.N.A” featuring LHS Track and Field superstar, Miya Brines in an exclusive Loveland Magazine TV on-camera interview!
Our Girls team back at it again today. This time at Princeton HS. Miya Brines stating us off. Go Tigers! pic.twitter.com/xfkjkAcjM9
Cassie Mattia’s Latest Loveland Salad includes all of Downtown’s 4th of July Festivities!
by Cassie Mattia,
Loveland, Ohio – The streets of Loveland were filled with patriotism as the community gathered around to enjoy one phenomenal 2021 Independence Day Celebration in the heart of Downtown!
Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Loveland’s 4th of July celebration was canceled so many Americans across Cincinnati missed out on celebrating America’s birthday Loveland-style. In preparation for this year’s celebration, many didn’t know what to expect, but as the 4th of July drew nearer one thing became clear; friends, families, and community members wanted to bring in Independence Day together with a bang. That couldn’t have been more true as the Loveland 2021 4th of July celebration kicked off at Noon and the sea of red, white, and blue filled Downtown Historic Loveland.
The beautiful sunny day was filled with activities, local vendor booths, food trucks, live music, and rides for the kids. At 4 PM Nisbet Park hosted the “Kids Zone,” which included exotic animals on display, potato sack races, martial arts, face painting, jugglers on stilts, the Loveland Robotics Team, pirates, inflatables, festival rides, and much more!
There was of course no shortage of food and drinks as the local food trucks rolled into Downtown Loveland at 4 PM as well. Crowds of festive Americans had the choice of lining up to receive ice cream from the Loveland Dairy Whip, 4th of July grill out cuisine from The Right Stuff Grill, delicious Southeast Asian-style food from the Sea Cuisine Food Truck, unique burgers and sandwiches from Stellar Street Eats, on-the-spot homemade lemonade at The Lemonade Stand, or a mouth-watering smoothie from The Smoothie King Food Truck.
As civilians ventured down the Loveland Bike Trail live patriotic music filled the air, creating an unbelievable atmosphere throughout Downtown Loveland. Russel Kuzuhara performed at Jackson Street Market as adults enjoyed nice cold beverages from the beer booth. Later the Bluewater Kings Band took the stage at the Nisbet Park Amphitheater as friends and families danced to the high-energy 6 piece ensemble.
The featured event of the night was the Loveland Parade, which brought in hundreds of Americans from all over the Cincinnati area just to catch a glimpse of patriotism in its best form! As local organizations, businesses, churches, Disney Princesses, circus performers, the LPD, the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department, and city officials made their way down West Loveland Avenue in their decked-out Americana vehicles kids lined the streets with their families for candy, popsicles, and even toothbrushes tossed out by those in the parade. The atmosphere couldn’t have been more perfect for those that attended and of course, the community felt more united than ever before!
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to commentate the entire parade while Loveland Magazine’s Editor, David Miller, streamed all of the action on Facebook Live for those who wanted to enjoy the Loveland Parade from their homes or vacation spots.
If you missed out on the 2021 4th of July Loveland Parade check out part 1 and part 2 of Loveland Magazine TV’s Facebook Live footage below!
As the sunset on Downtown Loveland, people began to claim their front row seats to the Annual Loveland Firework Show that started promptly at 10 PM. The firework show didn’t disappoint as friends and families camped out on blankets and lawn chairs while staring into the beautifully lit sky! Loveland’s Independence Day celebration ended with a firework grand finale that left those who were watching with an overwhelming feeling of love for America and the Americans surrounding them.
If you weren’t able to catch Loveland’s 2021 4th of July festivities, check out the videos below captured by David Miller on Loveland Magazine TV and the photos taken by Alex Eicher and Bob Kessler!
Loveland 4th of July Firework Photos by Alex Eicher
Check out these videos taken by David Miller on Loveland Magazine TV from Loveland’s Independence Day Celebration!
Loveland 4th of July Firework Photos by Bob Kessler
Batavia, Ohio – The Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to end a State of Emergency that had been declared on March 18, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The action was taken in concert with State of Ohio, which ended its State of Emergency on June 18.
The emergency declaration, along with a previous resolution delegating disaster functions in event of an absence of a quorum of the board, spelled out a succession of leadership and the authority of the county administrator in an emergency. It also exempted from the competitive bidding process purchases related to the emergency that were greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000, so long as no fewer than three informal estimates were obtained. The declaration also allowed the county to obtain state and federal funds.
Pam Haverkos, director of the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, thanked the commissioners for their support throughout the pandemic.
“Clermont County has definitely proved that we are a really resilient community – and that’s a result of the relationships we have built, the collaborations amongst our public safety partners, public health department, healthcare providers, local government agencies, social service agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations and residents,” Haverkos said.
“Response and recovery to a pandemic truly requires the ingenuity of the whole community,” she added.
Haverkos thanked Health Commissioner Julianne Nesbit and Clermont County Public Health for their tireless work, often done behind the scenes.
“They are the backbone of our response and recovery operations,” Haverkos said.
Clermont County held its first preparedness meeting on Jan. 31, 2020. The county officially opened its emergency operations center on March 16, 2020. Initially, the emergency operations team met daily and it gradually transitioned into weekly COVID Defense Team meetings.
In January, an emergency hotline number (732-8500) was activated to facilitate access to vaccines. The number has received almost 17,000 calls. It remains in service.
Public Health has administered 36,632 vaccinations. Combined with vaccinations from other providers, about 45 percent of the county’s residents have received at least one dose and 41 percent have completed their vaccines.
Vaccinations continue for those ages 12 and older.
“We can’t thank your staff enough and the whole health department for coordination from the very beginning all of the way through – daily updates and keeping everyone posted, most of all taking care of the citizens of Clermont County,” said Claire Corcoran, President, Board of County Commissioners. “What a tremendous, tremendous job all of you did.”
“Every communication meeting there for a while seemed like there was always new information, a new change of direction,” Commissioner David Painter said. “It really was a changing environment where you had to adapt. We realize how stressful that was.”
Commissioner Bonnie Batchler added: “You and your staff are always there in every emergency in Clermont County. From my heart, I thank you for what you have always done.”
Five Ohioans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are about to win $1 million through a new vaccine lottery program, but a Republican lawmaker wants to call the whole thing off.
State Rep. Jena Powell, R-Arcanum, is drafting legislation that would prevent the state from administering any vaccine lottery program.
Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans have already signed up for the Vax-A-Million lottery, which will begin May 26 and include five weekly drawings of $1 million prizes. Participants must be at least 18 years old and have received at least their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
State Rep. Jena Powell, R-Arcanum
There is a separate lottery program for those between the ages of 12 and 17, with the teenage winners receiving a full ride scholarship to any Ohio college or university.
The prize money will come from federal relief funds that have already been allocated to the Ohio Department of Health.
There is some early evidence that vaccinations have ticked upward since that announcement, and two other states have now introduced their own version of a vaccine lottery.
The Vax-A-Million program has received plenty of attention since Gov. Mike DeWine first announced the drawings last week. The reaction from Ohio lawmakers has been universally negative; legislators from both political parties have condemned the idea as an ill-conceived waste of taxpayer money.
“As elected leaders, we’re obligated to take seriously our duty to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes, D-Akron, said in a recent statement. “Using millions of dollars in relief funds in a drawing is a grave misuse of money that could be going to respond to this ongoing crisis. Ohioans deserve better than this. I do hope people continue to get the vaccine and help our state reach herd immunity so our economy and way of life can thrive again.”
State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, R-Perrysburg, issued a statement calling for “additional accountability” from the Ohio General Assembly regarding the Vax-A-Million program.
Bills normally require a 3-month waiting period until being enacted. Powell’s legislation includes an emergency clause for it to go into effect immediately in order to “prevent the COVID-19 vaccination lottery from taking place.”
Along with prohibiting Vax-A-Million, Powell proposes to redirect the funding used for these drawings toward either children’s mental health initiatives or to small business relief grants.
Gov. Mike DeWine is pictured during a statewide address on the pandemic. He announced a Vax-A-Million vaccine lottery in order to spur Ohioans to get their COVID-19 shots Photo courtesy the Ohio Channel.
The Ohio Capital Journal left a message with Powell’s office seeking more information about the legislation, which has not yet been formally introduced. Given the normal timeframe of the legislative process, the likelihood of this halting the Vax-A-Million drawings appears to be a longshot.
Powell has been among the harshest critics of DeWine’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, repeatedly characterizing his aggressive steps taken to prevent the virus from spreading as curbing Ohioans’ freedoms. She has blasted attempts to mitigate the pandemic, from masks to social distancing, and spent much of 2020 undercutting the state health department’s messaging — even as the virus raged in her native Darke County late last year.
Powell represents Darke and Miami counties in the Ohio House of Representatives’ 80th District. Both counties lag behind the statewide vaccination rate.
As of Friday, nearly 44% of Ohioans had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Just 29% of those in Darke County had received one along with 36% in Miami County, according to Ohio Department of Health (ODH) data.
“Ohioans don’t want giveaways to mask (DeWine’s) horrible policy for the past year,” Powell wrote on Facebook, “they want freedom.”
The former Clermont County prosecutor is asking for a refund after a former state legislator asked him to investigate the Ohio governor for terrorism.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told the 12th District Court of Appeals that he, too, thinks former state Rep. John Becker should pay “reasonable attorney fees” after filing an affidavit asking for seven felonies and three misdemeanors to be leveled against Gov. Mike DeWine.
Yost wrote in a brief to the court that an alternative to the approximately $4,000 reimbursement from Becker could be to “order Becker to spend a day observing criminal trials in open court, so that he can better understand the gravity of the matters for which prosecutorial and judicial resources must be preserved.”
Court documents say Becker, who left the legislature due to term limits, filed a “private citizen affidavit” last September, accusing DeWine of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, terrorism, inducing panic, making a terroristic threat, complicity and conspiracy. He also alleged that DeWine had committed bribery, coercion, interference with civil rights and “patient abuse or neglect.”
All of these charges were leveled against the governor “for his handling of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic throughout the state of Ohio, but more specifically, within Clermont County,” according to court documents.
The case was referred to then-county prosecutor D. Vincent Faris because of the felony charges. After reviewing the affidavit that same day, Faris told the county clerk “I…do not find a basis for the filing of a complaint pursuant to this private citizen’s affidavit.”
Two days later, Becker’s attorney asked to see the records related to the investigation Faris had done, and after receiving all the documents the prosecutor’s office said they had, asked the court to compel Faris to “act in accordance with his clear legal duty.”
The “extremely short time frame” of Faris’ investigation and lack of investigatory records, Becker said, proved the prosecutor “did not conduct an ‘actual,’ ‘meaningful’ and ‘legitimate’ investigation into his allegations” against the governor.
Faris argued to the court that several of Becker’s allegations were “so vague” that they made further investigation “futile.”
The appeals court found that Faris had conducted an investigation, and that the time of an investigation isn’t set in Ohio Revised Code, adding that the time involved depends on the type of allegations made.
“(Ohio Revised Code) requires the prosecutor to conduct an ‘investigation,’ not an ‘investigation that takes longer than five hours and results in the production of voluminous investigatory records’ as Becker suggests,” the court wrote in their decision.
The court ruled that Faris is allowed to hold a hearing to impose “sanctions” on Becker, saying Becker’s conduct in the case “goes beyond a mere disagreement with the arguments presented by an opposing party.”
“Considering the record in this case, it is clear that the only ‘investigation’ that would satisfy Becker is one that would result in Prosecutor Faris issuing a warrant for Governor DeWine’s arrest and subsequent prosecution,” the court wrote. “But Prosecutor Faris is not required to bend the law in order to satisfy one man’s efforts to grandstand and garner media attention for himself to score political points with his (now former) constituents.”
A date for the hearing on sanctions against Becker was not specified in the court’s decisions.
Loveland, Ohio – The final countdown has begun as The Little Miami River Chamber Alliance (LMRCA) will be kicking off the 8th Annual Loveland Food Truck Rally, presented by Wolterman Law, in just a few days on Saturday, May 8th from 3 PM to 10 PM at Shopper’s Haven Plaza on Loveland-Madeira Road.
This year the Loveland Food Truck Rally, both family-friendly and free to attend (the food trucks present will charge separately for their concessions), will be bringing in over 20 food trucks for the community to enjoy! Guests that attend will have the option to stay and take in the atmosphere by tailgating near their cars with their delicious food or they may take their food and beverages to go. Parking will be available across the street at the Loveland Primary School. Feel free to bring along your own folding chairs to add to your tailgating set-up, but please do not bring coolers or outside food and beverages as the Food Truck Rally will have plenty of food for you to enjoy as well as a variety of beer, wine, water, and soda for sale.
The LMRCA has made COVID-19 safety their top priority so that the community can celebrate the beginning of summer while still feeling safe and at ease! Masks will be required for the event and only may be taken off when seated and consuming food.
This year the Food Truck Rally will also include a “Children’s Area” that will feature inflatables, face painting, balloons, and a few other child-friendly surprises! The Children’s Area is set to close at 8 PM.
The Loveland Food Truck Rally recently added in more spectacular live entertainment aside from the nationally recognized Dan Varner Band. Premier Tumbling and Dance will put on a show from 3 PM-4 PM then Minar and Sowers will perform from 4 PM-6 PM. The Dan Varner Band will take the stage from 7 PM-10 PM.
In between live music, at 6 PM, several City of Loveland officials, including Mayor Kathy Bailey, will be present to address previously submitted questions by the community. Click “Contact” to submit your question to be answered at the Food Truck Rally by the Loveland City Officials.
There will be 22 Food Trucks in attendance that will be serving up everything from Chicken Mac to Funnel Cakes to creamy Loveland Dairy Whip ice cream! Check out the Food Truck line-up below!
Adeena’s Beef Stroll
All American Grill
Best Thing Smokin
Caveman Café
Chicken Mac
East Coast Eatz
Funnel Vision
Graeters
Jenn’s Hot Tamale
Just Jerks
Kona Ice
Loveland Dairy Whip
Mama Bears Mac
Patriot Grill
Philly Pretzel
Red Sesame
Rock and Rolls
Steak it Easy
Sweet Maize
Sweets and Meats
Texas Joe
The Cheesecakery
The Beerded Pig
At 6’4”, good-humored, warm, and sincere, Dan Varner’s stage presence demands attention. Fans and industry insiders agree.
Meet Dan Varner
Proud member, as an artist, of the CMA, ACM & ICMA
#1 ICMA Charting Song “When Mama Prayed”
Multiple Top 5 Charting ICMA songs
Opening act for the following country superstars: Blake Shelton, Dan & Shay, Kip Moore, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans, Easton Corbin, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Lawrence, Craig Morgan, Little Texas, Confederate Railroad, Randy Houser and many more.
Nashville benefit performance with country star Taylor Swift
Nashville “In the Round” performance with Music Row’s top hit- makers
CEA Finalist For Best Country Band multiple years
Voted #1 Original Music, Best Singer and Best Original Band by CincyVibe Magazine readers
Voted one of the top three bands in the Ohio tri-state area
Multiple, live on-air radio & TV performances within regional markets
If you are a business that would like to be involved in the Food Truck Rally this year, there will be booths available for rent. Click “Contact” to rent a booth for your business! Additional sponsorships are still available! For more information visit the LMCRA website or call their office at 513-683-1544.
For all things Loveland and more stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With Me, Cassie Mattia!
When Ohio reaches 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be lifted.
Read on and watch this message from Anthony Munoz, retired Cincinnati Bengal and Pro Football Hall of Famer, who was recently vaccinated.
Yesterday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
STATEWIDE CASE RATE
Governor DeWine announced that Ohio’s statewide case rate stands at 143.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. When Ohio reaches 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be lifted.
OHIO PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY SYSTEM
New health data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health shows declining rates of COVID-19 exposure and spread in ten counties.
Dropping from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2: Ashtabula, Carroll, Fayette, Jackson, Morrow, and Tuscarawas.
Dropping from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1: Auglaize, Mercer, Shelby, and Vinton.
NURSING HOME UPDATE
This week, Ohio’s long-term care facilities reported just 70 new COVID-19 cases, compared to 157 new cases reported the previous week and 2,832 new cases reported at the peak of the pandemic in December.
“In addition to wearing masks, social distancing, and cleaning, there is no doubt of the significant impact vaccination is having on protecting nursing home residents and preventing severe illness and death among those most targeted by the virus,” said Governor DeWine.
A total of 93 percent of Ohio’s nursing homes and 77 percent of assisted living facilities have signed up to get additional vaccine for new staff and new residents through Ohio’s COVID-19 Vaccine Maintenance Program. Governor DeWine urged the 243 facilities in Ohio that have not requested additional vaccine for new staff and residents to alert the state to its process to offer the vaccine by filling out the survey at aging.ohio.gov/COVIDvaccine.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has expanded the eligibility of the COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program, which provides reimbursements to eligible applicants to help cover the costs of inspections, assessments, maintenance, and improvements to indoor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to control the spread of COVID-19. The program also provides reimbursement for secondary devices designed to destroy bacteria, mold, and viruses.
Launched in December, this $28 million federally-funded program targeted nursing homes, assisted living centers, and adult day centers that invested in HVAC improvements that weaken COVID-19’s spread. The expanded eligibility extends to:
Intermediate care facilities;
Hospices;
Senior centers;
Adult care facilities;
Waiver settings (group homes); and
Substance use treatment centers.
More information, including the application, can be found at BWC.ohio.gov.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NURSING HOME VISITATION
Governor DeWine today discussed the new federal regulations for nursing home visitation, as well as Ohio’s Vaccine Maintenance Program. The visitation guidelines, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) indicate visitation should be happening in nursing homes. There are a few specific exceptions that would limit visitation, such as outbreaks in the facility or an extreme number of cases in the community. Full information on the federal nursing home visitation guidance is available at cms.gov.
Additionally, Governor DeWine highlighted the progress being made by Ohio’s Vaccine Maintenance Program for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Ohio’s Vaccine Maintenance Program ensures new nursing home residents and employees, and established residents and employees who previously decided not to receive a vaccine, can still choose to receive one. Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of every nursing home resident receiving a vaccine.
Long-term care facility visitation status is available on the dashboard at coronavirus.ohio.gov.
STATEWIDE CASE RATE
Governor DeWine announced that, statewide, Ohio is currently at a rate of 155 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people during the past two weeks. Last week, statewide data put Ohio at 180 cases per 100,000 people.
“In Ohio, we are still at a very elevated level of cases, but today’s health data is certainly trending in the right direction,” said Governor DeWine.
In an evening address last week, Governor DeWine announced that when Ohio reached 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be lifted.
The Ohio Department of Health will update this data each Thursday.
RAPID TESTING
Governor DeWine today detailed four initiatives that are making rapid COVID-19 tests more accessible to Ohioans:
Federal Qualified Health Centers
The state’s ongoing partnership with federally qualified health centers has led to the availability of over 150,000 rapid tests at community health centers. These centers have professionals on-hand to administer the tests free of charge.
Local Health Departments
Local health departments have partnered with their communities to make at-home testing available to schools, nonprofit organizations, and first responders.
Public Libraries
The state has recently partnered with public libraries to make at-home tests available to more Ohio communities. During the first two weeks, Ohio has partnering with 120 libraries.
K-12 Schools
A new partnership launched today will bring 200,000 at-home tests to Educational Service Centers. To increase confidence and safety in schools, Governor DeWine encourages school districts to take advantage of this resource and develop aggressive testing plans.
Between libraries and local health departments, at-home testing is accessible in 76 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Some of these areas had disproportionate access to testing earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic.
GUIDANCE ON FAIRS
Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health issued a revised order that allows for the reopening of all fair activities if certain health conditions are met. The updated order includes compliance with the statewide mask order and social distancing. Additionally, there will be a 25 percent maximum for indoor grandstand capacity and a 30 percent maximum for outdoor grandstand capacity.
Additionally, the Ohio Department of Health will issue updated order and guidance regarding festivals, parades, proms, and spring sports. For spring sports, students will not be required to quarantine because they have an incidental exposure to COVID-19 in a classroom unless symptoms develop.
These orders and guidance will be forthcoming from the Ohio Department of Health.
LETTER ADDRESSING PUA FRAUD
Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor today sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the development of a national, coordinated response to ongoing, widespread fraud attempts being committed through the unemployment system, specifically the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.
See below for an excerpt from the letter:
“We urge you to immediately develop a national, coordinated response to this ongoing attempt to defraud the American people and our national and state governments. While states are doing everything they can to administer the federal programs while maintaining system integrity, a state-by-stare response is proving inadequate. This is not an Ohio problem — it’s a national problem that requires a national solution.”
CURRENT CASE DATA
In total, there are 984,934 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 reported in Ohio and 17,825 COVID-19 deaths. A total of 51,323 people have been hospitalized throughout the pandemic, including 7,255 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Video of today’s full update, including versions with foreign language translation, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel’s YouTube page.
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
Loveland, Ohio – The LHS Women’s Basketball Team is still doing it #ourway while keeping their head coach #parkerstrong!
The 2020-2021 LHS Women’s Basketball season was quite the eventful one! The Tigers not only captured the ECC title for the second year in a row during a chaotic Pandemic but were also able to successfully motivate their coach, Darnell Parker as he battled cancer and dealt with the loss of his father giving him the strength to not only beat Cancer but also win the ECC Coach of the Year title for the second year in a row.
Here at Loveland Magazine, we decided it would be a great idea to catch up with Coach Darnell Parker via Zoom to see just how he felt about the 2020-2021 basketball season, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and his personal journey with cancer.
So without further ado, Loveland Magazine TV brings to you our loyal readers, “One-On-One Zoom Style With Darnell Parker!” Believe me, you don’t want to miss this inspiring interview!
Click below to view the Zoom interview now!
Thank you to team photographer Gayle Rothmeeler for allowing the use of her wonderful photos during this Zoom interview!
