DeWine: Here’s how Ohio can fully reopen after COVID-19

COLUMBUS — The finish line in Ohio's fight against the coronavirus has finally been drawn.

The state can fully reopen when it reports 50 new cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine said in a special address Thursday night. This metric is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's definition of "moderate incidence."

On Feb. 3, Ohio reported 445 new cases per 100,000 people over two weeks. In just one month, that number fell to 179 new cases per 100,000 people.

Herd immunity

Dr. James Kravec, Mercy Health's chief clinical officer, said he feels the state still has a long way to go before it hits DeWine's goal of lowering new cases per 100,000 residents. He's instead watching the state's number of vaccinations climb.

"I think as we, every week, get more and more of our Ohioans vaccinated, that we'll get close to the 'magical number' of herd immunity," Kravec said. "Really to me, that's the most important measure we should be doing right now."

The last time Mahoning County reported fewer than 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks was between Sept. 10 and Sept. 24, when the two-week rate of cases was 35.86 per 100,000 people, according to the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.

In Trumbull and Columbiana counties, that was between Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, when both counties reported about 37 cases per 100,000 people.

As of Thursday, Valley counties reported new cases between 160 and 190 cases per 100,000 for the prior two weeks.

"We have certainly more reduction that we expect to see," Kravec said. "Until that point happens, it's very, very important that … we continue our masking and social distancing.

"It's the combination of vaccines and public health measures that will help us."

Youngstown City Health District Health Commissioner Erin Bishop echoed Kravec's message about continuing public health measures and added reopening could be an incentive for people to get their shots.

"I hope it's encouraging for people that are on the fence about getting vaccinated that maybe this ... will encourage them to go out and get vaccinated," Bishop said.

Back to school

Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel said he knows things won't go back to normal quickly but hopes this new goal will bring Ohio closer to a new normal.

"Maybe we do need just one more little thrust to get more people excited about vaccinations and more people to just hold the line on this diligence," Tressel said.

YSU Thursday announced plans to host an in-person spring commencement and to return to "near normal" for the 2021 fall semester.

Tressel said YSU would finish the spring semester with the same COVID-19 protocols it started with, even if Ohio meets the new goal. He said it would be difficult to change protocols with about eight weeks left in the semester.

"Maybe we could get back even sooner than fall, but we definitely have our fingers and toes crossed that fall will be as close to normal as [possible]," Tressel said.

Tressel said the new goal for YSU would be to change protocols by the start of the second summer session in July instead of waiting for the start of the fall semester. Students will have more opportunities to be in the classroom and participate in other activities, he said.

"I guess now we have a target statistic, which is kind of cool," Tressel said.

Back to normal

Regarding the threshold for reopening, Kravitz Deli owner Jack Kravitz said, "I'm not sure exactly what it means. But it sounds reasonable."

Kravitz had hoped DeWine would announce restaurant workers would be given priority in receiving the vaccine.

"Everybody always says: The most dangerous place to be is a restaurant," said Kravitz. "Well, if the most dangerous place to be is in a restaurant, why aren't you vaccinating people who work in restaurants?"

While Kravitz has shifted to emphasis on carryout at his deli in Liberty, a fully reopened state will definitely impact his business.

For example, at his Liberty location, he's unable to use the tables in the middle of the deli which are attached to the original flooring, because they do not comply with the required six-foot distance between tables. Additionally, his cafe at Fellows Riverside Gardens will be able to reopen when Mill Creek MetroParks more fully opens.

But, "we're not rushing to do things that aren't safe and that would harm our employees," he said.

--Reporters Jess Hardin, Justin Dennis and Ellen Wagner contributed to this report.

This story was originally published March 5, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "DeWine: Here’s how Ohio can fully reopen after COVID-19."