Gov. DeWine: Continue Staying Home, Child Abuse Reports, Proposed $1.6 Billion Dividend for Employers

"Please know that this battle is still ongoing. We are blessed that we had early mitigation, but we need to stay there. There is no way out of this without what we're doing together. Please continue to stay home."

(Columbus, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, today thanked Ohioans who are staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and urged everyone to continue their efforts.

"The fear I have when we have silent victories is that people will start to say that COVID-19 was never there to begin with or that there was never a threat," said Dr. Acton. "Please know that this battle is still ongoing. We are blessed that we had early mitigation, but we need to stay there. There is no way out of this without what we're doing together. Please continue to stay home."

CORRECTION OFFICER DEATH: 

Governor DeWine announced today that a member of Ohio's state-employee family, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Officer John Dawson, died after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 30. 

Officer Dawson, 55, of Mansfield, had been a corrections officer at the Marion Correctional Institution since 1996. He most recently worked in the control center handing out equipment to staff. 

"Our hearts go out to John's family, friends, and his co-workers," said Governor DeWine. "His death reminds us that, although Ohio is doing well compared to other states, we are still seeing a large number of deaths. These are all people who were loved, and our hearts go out to everyone who has lost a loved one to COVID-19."

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SHORTAGE: 

The personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage in Ohio remains severe. Governor DeWine today made a plea to healthcare workers using N95 masks to send them to Battelle which can serialize up to 160,000 masks each day, making them reusable up to 20 times. 

"I want to make a public plea to everyone using these masks - every mask is precious, please don't throw them away," said Governor DeWine. "We are trying to get more N95 masks in Ohio, but we still don't have enough. When you throw a mask away you are depriving someone else of having a mask because we only have so many."

Hospitals should contact Battelle at battelle.org to arrange for mask sterilization. 

Governor DeWine also thanked Apple and Apple CEO Tim Cook for recently donating 100,000 N95 masks to Ohio for frontline healthcare workers. The masks will be added to Ohio's stockpile for distribution. 

More PPE donations for frontline workers are still urgently needed. To donate, please visit coronavirus.ohio.gov

CHILD ABUSE: 

Since Ohio's stay at home order began on March 22nd, Ohio has seen approximately a 50-percent drop in child abuse and neglect cases because those who typically report suspicions of abuse - such as teachers, coaches, child care providers, and school counselors and nurses - aren’t seeing children every day.

Governor DeWine urged everyone to report any suspected abuse or neglect by calling 855-OH-CHILD. 

PROPOSED $1.6 BILLION DIVIDEND: 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that he has asked the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to give up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers to help ease the economic impact of COVID-19 on Ohio’s economy and business community. 

The proposed amount equals 100% of the premium employers paid in policy year 2018.  As in previous years, the dividend is possible because of strong investment returns on employer premiums, a declining number of claims each year, and prudent fiscal management. 

BWC provides workers’ compensation insurance to more than 248,000 private and public employers in Ohio. Should the proposed $1.6 billion dividend total be approved by  BWC's Board of Directors: 

• An estimated $1.4 billion would go to private employers.
• Approximately $200 million would go to local government taxing districts (counties, cities, schools, etc.).

BWC has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document to provide information about the COVID-19's impact on BWC operations. BWC’s Board of Directors will hold an emergency meeting Friday to vote on the proposed dividend.  Once approved, BWC will begin to mail the checks to employers later this month.