Ohio is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine Friday to include people 40-years-old and up and additional qualifying health conditions.
Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) says widespread vaccination is key to stopping the spread of the coronavirus and its new strains.
DeWine says the state is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases involving the new variants of the virus. But he says they hope to outpace that uptick by ramping up vaccinations.
"We know that this is a race and that the virus is still very much out here," says DeWine.
The governor says he will lift all health orders when the average two-week case number reaches 50 per 100,000 people.
This week that number is at 143.8 cases per 100,000 people.
Everyone 16-years-old and up will be eligible for the vaccine starting March 29.