Gov. DeWine lays out plans to remove all health orders across Ohio

Saying the end is in sight, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has laid out plans to drop all health orders across the state.When Ohio gets down to 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, all health orders will be revoked, the governor said.On Thursday, that figure is at 179 cases per 100,000. In December, the figure was at 731, so already the state has seen drastic improvements. But the state still has a ways to go before health orders will be dropped.Cases per 100,000 people for a two-week period is a standard measure the state has used since early in the pandemic.”The end of our fight is now in view, but we must continue pressing forward in these final days,” the governor said. “We must not relent.”The governor has slowly rolled back coronavirus restrictions in recent months, dropping the state’s overnight curfew, revoking stay-at-home orders and reopening restaurants, bars and gyms.But the work is far from over, the governor warned.”Our path back is by each of us getting vaccinated when we can, and by each of us wearing masks in public,” DeWine said. “While no one will be forced to take the vaccine, the more of us who are vaccinated, the more complete our victory, and the more confidently we can put this behind us.”As of Thursday, Ohio have vaccinated more than 1.8 million people across the state. There are more than 1,200 vaccination locations, but only select groups are eligible.“The vaccine is the most efficient, effective, and powerful weapon,” DeWine said. “Our vaccination plan has been to prioritize Ohioans most likely to die if they get the virus: older Ohioans, those with severe developmental disabilities, and those with serious, life-threatening medical condition.”WLWT will update this story.