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    Coronavirus Update: Local Hospitals Expand Eligibility, Variants & More

    Keep up with regular news updates regarding Columbus and Ohio’s response to COVID-19 here.

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    The Numbers

    COVID-19 cases — In Columbus, 128 cases of COVID-19 were reported as of Wednesday, March 24. As of Thursday, March 25, 82,575 total cases and 1,006 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Columbus and Worthington.

    In Franklin County at large, 196 cases were reported as of Wednesday.

    Countywide, 124,300 total cases and 1,514 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported by Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health.

    In Ohio, 1,501 cases were reported on Thursday.

    Statewide, 1,006,171 total cases and 18,382 deaths have been confirmed or are probable since the start of the pandemic, as reported by the Ohio Department of Health. 957,675 Ohioans have been presumed recovered.

    According to the Ohio Vaccination Dashboard, 3,028,527 Ohioans (25.91% of the total population) have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine. 312,904 Franklin County residents (23.76% of the county population) have received at least one valid dose.

    Those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine can book an appointment here or call 1-833-427-5634 for help with scheduling.

    More Updates

    Vaccine Eligibility Opening Up Early — Though eligibility will officially drop to any Ohioan age 16 and up beginning on March 29, Governor Mike DeWine announced this week that any local health department or hospital having a hard time filling vaccine appointments with individuals who are currently eligible can begin booking appointments with individuals 16 and older.

    Mount Carmel Health has announced it has opened vaccine appointments to Ohioans 16 and over, while OhioHealth is now scheduling vaccine appointments with Ohioans 18 and over.

    571,460 doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are expected next week.

    Another Mass Vaccination Site for Columbus — Next week, Ohio will open 11 stationary mass vaccination sites and four mobile clinics across the state. Columbus’ stationary mass vaccination site will be held at The Celeste Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

    Locations will primarily offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

    Nursing Home Vaccine Program Announced, List of Facilities Not Participating Released — It was announced that The Ohio Department of Aging has created the Vaccine Maintenance Program to ensure nursing home residents and employees who have not already received a vaccine can do so. The announcement came as the department released a list of nursing homes and assisted living facilities that have “not opted into the program or confirmed how they will provide vaccinations.”

    The list includes eight Central Ohio facilities: Laurels of Hilliard, Cottage at Wexner Heritage Village, Arlington Court Nursing Home, Regency Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation, Woodlands of Columbus, Claremont Retirement Village, The Grand of Dublin and Taylor Springs Health Campus.

    Variants in Ohio — Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Chief Medical Officer of the Ohio Department of Health, said on Thursday when asked about concerns about COVID variants that of the five known variates of COVID-19, “Ohio is seeing more and more of three in particular.” The state has predominantly seen the UK variant spread, but also some of the California variants.

    For more information on COVID-19 in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.

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    Taijuan Moorman
    Taijuan Moormanhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Taijuan Moorman is a former reporter and social media specialist for Columbus Underground and The Metropreneur who covered civics, arts, entertainment, lifestyle, and business news and features.
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