COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday vetoed Senate Bill 311 as expected, giving the state’s General Assembly a month to try to override his decision during a lame-duck session. The legislation seeks to amend a century-old law and curb the power of the governor to unilaterally implement rules through the state’s health department. DeWine […]
Covid-19
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COVID-19: Richland County turns ‘purple’ for the first time
MANSFIELD — Richland County turned “purple” for the first time on Thursday, the most severe category in Ohio’s color-coded COVID-19 rating system, reporting more than 1,000 new virus cases in the last two weeks. For a second straight week, Richland County triggered all seven of the Ohio Public Health Advisory System indicators, becoming one of […]
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COVID-19: Mansfield mayor announces municipal building to again close
MANSFIELD — The Mansfield City Municipal Building is again closed to the public due to the spread of COVID-19, effective Tuesday, Dec. 1, until Jan. 18, Mayor Tim Theaker announced Monday. It’s the second time during the pandemic the mayor has closed the city’s administrative offices due to the coronavirus. Theaker declared a “State of Emergency” […]
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COVID-19: Hospitalizations jump 59 percent statewide in last 2 weeks
COLUMBUS — There were 4,358 COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Monday morning, an increase of 59 percent in just two weeks, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press briefing. “We also currently have 1,079 patients who are in the ICU, which is again far higher than we have seen so far during this pandemic,” […]
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CARES Act: Richland County commissioners will receive portion of unused local funds
MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners may have between $250,000 and $500,000 in additional CARES Act funds to allocate. The actual amount will be determined once a final accounting of local government entities participation in the COVID-19 relief funding effort is completed. Under the federal and state guidelines in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security […]
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COVID-19: DeWine issues health order encouraging Ohioans to stay home
COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday announced Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed a health order encouraging people to stay at home during specified hours unless they are working or engaged in an essential activity. “As COVID-19 continues to spread in Ohio, we need a stronger response to minimize the impact […]
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COVID-19: Richland County remains ‘red’ for eighth straight week
MANSFIELD — Richland County remained “red,” or level three, on Thursday for the eighth straight week in Ohio’s color-coded, COVID-19 ratings system. Richland County is one of 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties this week with the “red” designation. Ashland, Crawford and Knox counties also remained red this week. Franklin County on Thursday became the first […]
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COVID-19: DeWine orders statewide overnight curfew, beginning Thursday
COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for retail establishments across the state, beginning Thursday, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. The curfew will last for at least 21 days, the governor said, citing his desire for people to have fewer contacts with […]
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Richland Public Health to use $200K in state funds for personnel, testing/vaccine equipment
MANSFIELD — Richland Public Health will use the $200,000 in additional CARES Act funds to cover personnel costs and testing/vaccination equipment, Commissioner Sarah Humphrey said Tuesday. On Nov. 12, Gov. Mike DeWine said the state will disburse $30 million in federal coronavirus, offering $200,000 to each local health department, and will hire more contact tracers […]
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Rapid spike in COVID-19 straining Richland Public Health staff, resources
MANSFIELD — The rapidly rising spike in COVID-19 cases has “exceeded the capability” of public officials to immediately contact every person who tests positive, according to Richland Public Health Commissioner Sarah Humphrey. Richland County and Ohio are experiencing an “unprecedented surge” in coronavirus cases, unlike anything yet reported during the pandemic, which reached Ohio in […]