Bruce Vanderhoff
Ohio state senators hold rail safety hearing as pressure builds for federal action
This week Ohio’s U.S. Senators criticized Norfolk Southern for “putting profits over people,” and insisted their legislation presents a “time for choosing,” in a closely watched committee hearing. In Ohio, meanwhile, lawmakers held their own hearing on rail safety. Separately, the rail industry announced plans to install about 1,000 additional wayside detectors in response to […]
Ohio Gov. DeWine calls for stricter regulations on railways after East Palestine derailment
Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that it’s “absurd” the train that derailed in East Palestine wasn’t designated a “high hazardous material train,” urging U.S. Congress to change the current regulations. “We should know when we have trains carrying hazardous material that are going to the state of Ohio,” DeWine argued during a news conference. The […]
In COVID’s third winter, biggest threat is three viruses at once
Ohio health officials are urging caution again this winter. But entering our third holiday season with COVID-19, the nature of those warnings is a bit different. As Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff explained, this year the threat is multiple respiratory viruses at once. “Unlike the last two winters, it’s not just about […]
Doctors: Lots of good reasons to get the new COVID vax boost
After 27 excruciating months, most of us are ready to put the coronavirus in the rearview. But the disease caused by the virus is still killing a dozen Ohioans a day, Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said Thursday. That’s why, with the approach of fall, it’s important to get the newly […]
Public health chief warns of new coronavirus variant but won’t endorse mask mandate
The United States has more than enough coronavirus vaccine and more than enough masks, yet the refusal to mask up and get vaccinated is driving a fourth wave of infection that is again crowding intensive-care units, including those for children. But Ohio Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff on Thursday said that instead of re-imposing mask mandates, […]
Latest increase in cases, hospitalizations has Ohio health officials pushing vaccines
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff acknowledges that as the public face of the Ohio Department of Health he is repeating himself a lot these days. But the message is important enough to continue repeating in simple terms, ODH’s chief medical officer said Wednesday. “It really comes down to, are you vaccinated and safe or are you unvaccinated […]
Public health officials try to battle the misinformation pandemic
Ohio continues to get good news in its fight against coronavirus. On Saturday, the infection rate dropped to less than 50 cases per 100,000 Ohioans. That’s the rate Gov. Mike DeWine originally set for removing COVID-related health orders, although he backed off of it as federal authorities eased masking guidance. The rate is a far, […]
As in other states, Ohio might be running out of people who want shots
Some county health departments in Ohio are again telling state officials this week not to send them any more coronavirus vaccines. That’s because they haven’t been able to use up the supplies they already have. It might be part of a national phenomenon. The news organization Axios reported this week on a paper by the […]
DeWine rules out additional restrictions as covid variants spread
Even with rising levels of vaccination, coronavirus cases are starting to surge in Ohio. The increase seems largely due to a faster-spreading variant spilling over the border from Michigan, but Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday wouldn’t call for increased restrictions in either state. The faster-spreading B.1.1.7 variant is playing a big role in fueling […]
Ohio scrambles to adjust to vaccine “pause”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday said he was blindsided like everybody else when he learned that federal public health officials were advising that all states should “pause” administration of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. DeWine followed that advice and now vaccine providers are trying to pivot as quickly as they can so that […]
With variants spreading, Ohio tries to reach the vaccine hesitant
After months of increasing vaccination rates and declining coronavirus cases, infections are again going up in Ohio. Gov. Mike Dewine and health officials on Thursday said the increase has put the state in a race against more-contagious variants that evolve from the “mutant swarm” that thrives so long as the virus has plenty of hosts […]
Ohio Lt. Gov. bashes China on coronavirus, won’t address Trump
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Thursday continued to insist that in calling it the “Wuhan virus,” he was only raising questions about the Chinese government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic — not blaming the disease on Asians. At the same time Husted, a Trump supporter, wouldn’t address the former president’s handling of the pandemic […]