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    Coronavirus Update: 20% of Franklin County Residents Started Vaccination, Eligibility Expands & 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, 149 cases of COVID-19 were reported for Wednesday, March 17. As of Thursday, March 18, 81,637 total cases and 994 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Columbus and Worthington.

    In Franklin County at large, 224 cases were reported for Wednesday.

    Countywide, 122,866 total cases and 1,496 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported by Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health.

    In Ohio, 2,104 cases were reported on Thursday.

    Statewide, 995,785 total cases and 17,992 deaths have been confirmed or are probable since the start of the pandemic, as reported by the Ohio Department of Health. 946,602 Ohioans have been presumed recovered.

    According to the Ohio Vaccination Dashboard, 2,567,312 Ohioans (21.96% of the total population) have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine. 257,212 Franklin County residents (19.53% of the county population) have received at least one valid dose.

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

    Visual of local vaccination progress sent out by Columbus Parks and Recreation this week.

    More Updates

    Ohio’s Long-Term Care Facilities Show Hesitation

    93% of nursing homes and 77% of assisted living facilities have signed up for additional COVID-19 vaccine doses for new residents, said Governor Mike DeWine during a Thursday afternoon press briefing, leaving 243 facilities that have yet to sign up to continue receiving doses to provide to residents who now want the vaccine or new residents.

    Ohio’s long-term care facilities reported just 70 new COVID-19 cases, said DeWine, as compared to 157 new cases the previous week and 2,832 new cases reported at the peak of the pandemic in December.

    Reason Behind Expanded Vaccine Eligibility

    Governor DeWine provided additional insight into why the state is expanding eligibility to every Ohioan 16 years of age and older.

    “We are now averaging about 400,000 first doses every single week,” he said, and the state expecting that to increase to 500,000 doses the week of March 29, the week vaccine eligibility opens up for adult Ohioans.

    He also said some Ohio cities, including Columbus, continue to have appointment vacancies.

    “We seem to be having a slower uptake every time we move down in age,” he said. “At least that what it appears to me to be happening.”

    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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