COLUMBUS, Ohio — Although he doesn’t typically hold a COVID-19 press conference on Fridays, Governor Mike DeWine will speak to Ohioans today in a special briefing.
We will stream his press conference live inside this story as it happens at 2 p.m. You can also watch live on our Facebook or YouTube pages.
WHAT’S THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS PRESS CONFERENCE?
Gov. DeWine is expected to discuss Ohio’s protocols for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine once the shots arrive.
"The packages that are going to come in from Pfizer will have 975 doses in them,” Gov. DeWine said during his Thursday press conference. “There will be some counties and places where those need to go.”
He also said the Ohio National Guard has already been practicing at packaging shipments so they’re prepared once distribution begins.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT?
The other talking point that we expect to be discussed is the ongoing surge of new COVID-19 infections throughout the state.
This press conference comes one day after multiple Northeast Ohio counties hit level 4 purple status for the first time Thursday, including Summit, Portage, Stark, Medina and Richland. Purple is the highest risk level in Ohio’s COVID-19 alert system.
Although Cuyahoga County has never been elevated to purple status, it has now been put on the watch list with the potential for reaching that designation.
REVIEWING THE STATE'S NEW COVID-19 DATA
Since the new COVID-19 numbers will be released around the same time, we anticipate Gov. DeWine will address the data as well.
MORE HEADLINES:
- RELATED: 7 Northeast Ohio counties reach Level 4 'purple' COVID-19 risk level; Cuyahoga County on watch list
- RELATED: Who is ahead of you for a new COVID-19 vaccine? Click here.
- RELATED: Pediatricians call for kids to wear face masks during most youth sports
- RELATED: COVID-19 in Ohio: Track the state's latest data
