Staff Writer
ST. CLAIRSVILLE Another round of COVID-19 vaccine for Belmont County’s seniors is planned for today, but lack of communication from those wanting the vaccine has hampered the health department’s efforts.
Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul made his Wednesday report to the board of commissions, including plans to conduct another vaccination clinic today.
Because of the extreme cold weather, the clinic will be held indoors rather than as a drive-through event as in prior weeks.
“We have the clinic scheduled for Thursday. This time it’s going to be a walk-up,” Sproul said. “We’re going to move it inside. When the weather is better we’ll move back to the drive-through. The public seemed to like that.”
Staff Writer
AP Photo
Darrell Boyd sips a glass of wine at the Winking Lizard Tavern, Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, in Beachwood, Ohio. Closer to home, area businesses are looking forward to the lifting of the statewide curfew next week.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE Businesses, particularly bars and restaurants, have taken a hit during the statewide curfew in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but owners are hopeful that Gov. Mike DeWine might lift the curfew next week.
DeWine’s office issued a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew last year. In recent weeks, he moved the start time to 11 p.m.
DeWine is basing his decisions on the number of patients hospitalized with the virus in the state, on the grounds that he does not want health care workers to be overwhelmed.
For the News-Register
Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Board of Education President Jerry Moore, right, and Superintendent of Schools Brent Ripley review school facilities in earlier days. School districts in the area have been working to educate students during the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to await vaccinations for staff. The latest information from the governorâs office places Monroe and Harrison countiesâ school districts vaccine schedule in the third week of February, and Belmont and Jefferson countiesâ in the fourth week. (File photo)
By ROBERT A. DEFRANK
For the Sunday News-Register
ST. CLAIRSVILLE Ohio’s school employees have the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in February, but local counties are not high on the list.
Staff Writer
ST. CLAIRSVILLE Hundreds of Belmont County residents age 75 and older received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine Thursday.
Meanwhile, the statewide curfew now has a later start time it was moved from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is in effect until 5 a.m. daily. The state’s schools are also expected to be informed today about when their staff members will be able to receive their vaccinations.
The Belmont County Senior Services Department hosted the shot clinic.
“It was a real efficient operation,” Senior Services Director Dwayne Pielech said. “I don’t think anybody ever waited more from start to finish, about a half hour.”
Staff Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that the number of Ohioans hospitalized with COVID-19 could mean the state’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. curfew could be loosened or lifted if that trend continues.
However, demand and the large subgroups of people eligible for the vaccine remain in excess of doses available at any one time. Nonetheless, DeWine remains hopeful that progress will continue on all fronts, and specifically that Ohio’s schools will be back in regular session March 1.
This week, vaccination of those 75 years and older began. Also eligible are Ohioans with congenital, early-onset or inherited medical conditions and developmental or intellectual disabilities.