DeWine announces plans to recognize 1-year anniversary of Ohio's first reported COVID case

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Mar. 8—Gov. Mike DeWine will issue a proclamation marking March 9 as a day of remembrance in recognition of Ohio's first recorded case of coronavirus.

The state is planning for a memorial grove for one of Ohio's state parks to commemorate those who have died during the pandemic.

He also ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday from sunrise to sunset at all public buildings and grounds in the state.

On March 9, 2020, DeWine declared a State of Emergency in Ohio after the state reported three people tested positive for COVID-19 in Cuyahoga County.

Nearly a year later and Ohio has reported 979,725 total cases and 17,502 deaths as of Monday, according to Ohio Department of Health data.

With three vaccines approved for use in the U.S., DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health are starting to lift some restrictions and layout guidelines for getting back to normal.

Last week, the governor announced that if the state reports less than 50 cases per 100,000 people for two weeks in a row, all public health orders, including a mask mandate, will be lifted.

As of Tuesday, Ohio reported 179.6 cases per 100,000 people.