Octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians: you re next in line to roll up your sleeves and get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Folks 80 years old and older are eligible for the two-shot vaccine starting Monday. You won t be charged anything out-of-pocket.
Older Ohioans, as well as those with certain disabilities and school employees, are in the upcoming 1-B phase of vaccination. Ohio is vaccinating people in that group using a tiered system based on age.
Vaccine clinics held by local health departments have seen high demand, but they aren t the only providers of the vaccine. Friday, Ohio released a database of vaccine providers searchable by county at vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Local restaurants continue ignoring state s rules
By Susan DeVilder
The Star Courier
On Nov. 20, all 11 regions of Illinois moved into Tier 3 Mitigation measures that banned inside dining and service, but several Kewanee bars and restaurants apparently didn t get the memo.
Through eyewitness inspection Tuesday it was determined that Kewanee patrons are dining inside at several local restaurants and bellying up to the bar at several local taverns, a practice that is not allowed under the current resurgence plan.
Some of the locations currently serving customers already have been cited or temporarily shut down for breaking rules, and many of them have obtained grants and loans meant to help them through closure orders, but which carry stipulations that require them to follow applicable restrictions.
Each local health agency is responsible for its own jurisdiction at this time.
The state s first phase of voluntary vaccinations includes:
Health care workers and personnel involved with the care of COVID-19 patients
Residents and staff members at nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Patients and staff members at state psychiatric hospitals
People with developmental disabilities or mental health disorders and staff members at residential facilities
Residents and staff members at state veterans homes
Emergency medical service workers
Entities in townships, villages and cities excluding Canton, Massillon and Alliance covered by the Stark County Health Department can download a spreadsheet at starkhealth.org and send the completed form to covidvaccine@starkhealth.org.
Northwest, Alliance to go remote after holiday break
The Independent
Northwest Local Schools and Alliance City Schools plan to hold off returning to the classroom after the holiday break.
Northwest students will learn remotely from Jan. 4 through Jan. 15. They will return to in-person learning on Jan. 19.
Students in the Alliance district will be virtual for one week from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8 after the break. Students will return to the buildings Jan. 11.
A letter on the Alliance district s website explained the decision stems from an abundance of caution and to help minimize the rising positive cases and quarantines caused by the holiday gatherings and interactions.